Sporting device apparatus, system, method, and computer program

ABSTRACT

According to one exemplary embodiment, a sporting apparatus, system, method and/or computer program product may provide an electronically and programmably controlled sporting device. Certain embodiments include the sporting robotic device apparatus which may include at least one or more of: at least one pair of parallel panels facing one another forming a tunnel space therebetween, with an array of a plurality of sensors on the inner periphery of said parallel panels; or a plurality of sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery of a tunnel space; wherein said plurality of sensors is configured to detect, and sense a projectile following a path through said tunnel space; and at least one data collection system configured to: capture a time stamp and location of occurrence of a detection event, store said time stamp and said location of said detection event, and analyze a trajectory and path followed by the projectile through said tunnel space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is filed on Oct. 1, 2018, and is a continuation-in-partof, and claims priority to, and benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/729,663, filed Oct. 10, 2017, in a state of allowance, acontinuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, and benefit of, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/437,432, filed Feb. 20, 2017, allowed andissuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,782,648 on Oct. 10, 2017, which is acontinuation-in-part of, and claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/237,631, filed Aug. 16, 2016, allowed and issuing as U.S.Pat. No. 9,573,035 on Feb. 21, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part ofand claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/261,435,filed Apr. 25, 2014, allowed and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,415,263 onAug. 16, 2016, the contents of all of the preceding of which, areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates generally to training devices, and moreparticularly to athletic training devices, and even more particularly toelectronic athletic training devices.

Discussion of the Related Art

Conventionally, various athletic training devices have existed but havevarious shortcomings.

Early athletic ball games include Lacrosse played by native Americans,Jai-Alai a sport originating in northern Spain, as well as associationfootball (soccer) formalized in the United Kingdom, involving kicking aball into a goal, tracing its ancestry to Episkyros of Ancient Greece,and Harpastum of early Rome. Other ball-based sports may includefieldhockey, tennis, squash, handball, etc. Other sports may use aslightly different shaped ball including, e.g., but not limited to, apuck for ice hockey, and an oblong spheroid for American football, etc.Various other sports involve throwing or hitting a ball or otherprojectile, such as baseball, softball, shotput, javelin, etc. Sportsgenerally have a given set of rules, and often require an athlete todevelop eye-hand and/or eye-foot coordination to be successful.

One illustrative example of a ball-based athletic sport, basketball, isan athletic or sports competition to determine which of two teams of oneor players can place or throw a ball vertically down through a targethoop the most times with the opposing player or team trying to keep theball from going through the hoop by blocking the player or interferingwith the ball on its way to the hoop. Basketball was invented by Dr.James Naismith in 1891. The hoops in a basketball game are attached to abackboard and are generally located 10 feet above the floor in ahorizontal position. Originally the hoop was a basket, hence the name,but today, the hoop is conventionally a resilient metal ring with areplaceable (often nylon or cotton) woven net.

The primary object of basketball is to score by throwing the ball intothe goal, officially called the “basket.” A basket is scored when theball passes completely through the basket ring from above; however, thenumber of points scored with each basket can vary by distance from whichthe ball is thrown, and a team need not necessarily score the mostbaskets to win a game. A basket scored during normal play is called afield goal and is worth two points if shot from within or on thethree-point line, and three points if shot from beyond the three-pointline. The three point line's distance from the goal may vary by level ofplay (e.g., high school, college, professional, etc.). Points areautomatically awarded to the shooting team if, while the ball is in itsflight towards or is over the basket, the defending team illegallytouches the ball or basket, known as goaltending or basket interference.An alternate method of scoring in basketball is the free throw, whichscores one point. A free throw scores the same way as a field goal,except that it is taken unopposed from a free-throw line after a foul.Basketball scores are expressed in total points.

The basket in basketball generally includes a metal hoop or ring 18inches (46 cm) in internal diameter, suspended horizontally 10 feet (3.0m) above the floor such that the center of the ring is equidistant fromeach sideline and 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m) from the end line. The basketring may have a net attached below to briefly check the ball's downwardprogress and indicate a score. The ring may be fastened to a generallyrectangular backboard 6 feet (1.8 m) wide by 3.5 feet (1.1 m) tall,though in lower levels of play or recreational use the backboard may besmaller and/or fan-shaped. Conventionally, the entire structure may besupported from behind and anchored to the floor beyond the end line athigher levels of play; the structure may be anchored to a wall orceiling at lower levels of play. The ring, net, and the front, top,bottom, and sides of the backboard may all be considered inbounds, whilethe back of the backboard and the support structure—even those partssuspended over inbounds areas of the court—may be considered out ofbounds.

Players have a better chance of placing the ball in the basketball hoopif they have physical attributes such as height and developmentalattributes such as dexterity, and so-called good coordination. Forexample, good eye-hand coordination is helpful for a player as theplayer uses the player's eyes to judge distance and the player's armsand body to propel the ball with proper force and direction to gothrough the hoop.

To improve eye hand coordination, a player may conventionally practiceshooting the ball from a static position with feet stationary, or from adynamic position where the player's feet and body are moving. Playersare taught to use their bodies as well as hands and arms to help propeland direct the ball towards the hoop and in a game the players movetheir bodies to avoid and to get around the opposing players, which aretrying to block the players and the ball.

In practicing for a game, players spend a lot of time shooting the ballat the hoop, which is conventionally fixed and stationary. The hoop isconventionally fixedly mounted to a backboard and the backboard isgenerally fixed to a floor, wall or ceiling, or placed on a fixedplatform.

The players are always moving during a game as the players try to have aclear path of travel for the ball from the players' hands to the hoopand generally in practice players simulate the movements they can use ina game by putting their bodies in motion to improve their dynamiceye-hand coordination. The same kind of body movements players use in agame can be simulated by moving one's body in a dynamic way andshooting, but this may quickly become fatiguing.

Various so-called “goal-only” sports exist, where the only method ofscoring is the goal. Examples of goal-only sports include Associationfootball (soccer), ice hockey, field hockey, handball, lacrosse, waterpolo, polo, etc. Various other sports (in addition to basketball) permitscoring other than by single points for a goal including Australianrules football (6 point goals), and Gaelic football and hurling. Sportswith goals as secondary scoring include American and Canadian football,Arena football, and Rugby.

Various conventional athletic training systems are known, but all failto provide an optimal training experience simulating real world, in gamevariable movement, in a compressed training area.

Conventional athletic training and systems have various shortcomings.What is needed is an improved system and method of providing athletictraining that overcomes various shortcomings of conventional solutions.

SUMMARY OF VARIOUS EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments of an apparatus, system, method andcomputer program product for providing an improved athletic trainingapparatus, system, method and/or computer program product as is setforth in detail herein.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a sporting device apparatus caninclude: at least one or more of: at least one pair of parallel panelsfacing one another forming a tunnel space therebetween, with an array ofa plurality of sensors on the inner periphery of said parallel panels;or a plurality of sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery ofa tunnel space; wherein said plurality of sensors is configured todetect, and sense a projectile following a path through said tunnelspace; and at least one data collection system configured to: capture atime stamp and location of occurrence of a detection event, store saidtime stamp and said location of said detection event, and analyze atrajectory and path followed by the projectile through said tunnelspace.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where said plurality of sensors can include: a plurality ofbeam-breaking sensors.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the plurality of sensors can include: a plurality oftransmitter and receiver pairs.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the plurality of sensors can include: a plurality ofsensors, wherein said sensors comprise at least one of: an infra-redsensor; a light emitting diode (LED) sensor; a beam sensor; a lasersensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a radar sensor; or a lidar sensor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus canfurther include at least one robot oriented toward said tunnel, at anopening of at least one end of said tunnel.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the robot can include: a plurality of joint axes, whereineach joint axis of said plurality of joint axes can include: at leastone motor; at least one structural member coupled to at least one ofsaid each of said plurality of joint axes motors, where each of said atleast one motor is configured to move an associated coupled at least oneof said at least one structural member.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus canfurther include at least one or more of: at least one electronic userinterface coupled to said at least one robot, configured to interactwith a user to receive a selection of at least one sporting routine formoving said robot; at least one electronic computer processor, coupledto said at least one robot; at least one electronic input device coupledto said at least one electronic computer processor; at least oneelectronic output device coupled to said at least one electroniccomputer processor; or at least one electronic memory device coupled tosaid at least one electronic computer processor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the electronic user interface can include at least oneof: an electronic display device, said at least one electronic inputdevice, said at least one electronic output device, an electronickeyboard, or an electronic touchscreen.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the at least one or more of: where the at least oneelectronic computer processor is configured to save or retrieve said atleast one sporting routine from said at least one memory; where the atleast one electronic computer processor is configured to randomize atleast one challenge; or where the electronic computer processor isconfigured to at least one of: combine a plurality of previously savedof said at least one sporting routine, or shuffle a plurality ofpreviously saved of said at least one sporting routine.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the at least one sporting device comprises beingconfigured to receive through said tunnel space the projectile from theuser, the apparatus configured to detect at least one of: a pitch orthrow of the projectile; a catch or hit of the projectile; automaticallydetect a path traversed by the projectile; automatically detect movementof the projectile; identify a position, trajectory and path of theprojectile over a given time; detect at least a direction and a path ofthe projectile traversed through the tunnel space; detect at least oneof a velocity, or an acceleration of the projectile; automatically tracka path in at least one horizontal, or vertical plane; detect whether atleast one goal is achieved; detect whether at least one target isreached; detect movement in at least two dimensions; or detect movementin at least three dimensions.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the at least one sporting device comprises at least oneof: a target; a goal; a ring; a closed loop; a closed polygon with anopening therein; a ring between the user and a final target; a borderwith an aperture therethrough; a ring between the user and a final goal;a pitching capability; a throwing capability; a catching capability; ahitting capability; an offensive capability; a defensive capability; agoal; a basketball goal; a soccer goal; a target; a hockey goal; a fieldhockey goal; a hockey goal; a winter sports goal; a summer sports goal;a shooting sports target; an archery goal; a field goal; a lacrossegoal; a tennis target; a golf target; a football target; an intermediategoal; a plurality of goals; or a FRISBEE flying disc golf goal.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a sporting device apparatus,system, method and/or computer program product can include, where the atleast one sporting data collection device, wherein said at least onesporting data collection device comprises: at least one electroniccomputer processor; at least one electronic memory device coupled tosaid at least one electronic computer processor; at least one of atleast one electronic input or at least one electronic output devicecoupled to said at least one electronic computer processor; and at leastone or more of: at least one pair of parallel panels facing one anotherforming a tunnel space therebetween, with an array of a plurality ofsensors on the inner periphery of said parallel panels; or a pluralityof sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery of a tunnel space;wherein said plurality of sensors is configured to detect, and sense aprojectile following a path through said tunnel space; and wherein saidat least one sporting data collection system is configured to: capture atime stamp and location of occurrence of a detection event, store saidtime stamp and said location of said detection event, and analyze atrajectory and path followed by the projectile through said tunnelspace.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the plurality of sensors can include: a plurality ofbeam-breaking sensors.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the plurality of sensors can include: a plurality oftransmitter and receiver pairs.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus caninclude, where the plurality of sensors can include: a plurality ofsensors, wherein said sensors comprise at least one of: an infra-redsensor; a light emitting diode (LED) sensor; a beam sensor; a lasersensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a radar sensor; or a lidar sensor.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sporting device apparatus canfurther include, at least one robot oriented toward said tunnel, at anopening of at least one end of said tunnel.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a computer implemented athletictraining apparatus, system, method and/or computer program product mayinclude providing a robotically controlled moveable athletic trainingdevice, which may include a plurality of sensors to sense a ball orprojectile proximate to the athletic training device.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a goal, a moving hoop or targetmay allow the player to develop and practice dynamic shooting or otherathletic interaction without the fatigue associated with acceleratingand decelerating the player's body with each dynamic practice shot.

According to one exemplary embodiment, an athletic training apparatus,system, method and/or computer program product may include: a robot; andan athletic training device, such as a goal, coupled to said robot. Theathletic training apparatus may further include a plurality of sensors,which may be adapted to sense a ball, and/or projectile, etc., and itsproximity to the athletic training device.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay further include: a user interface for interacting with the user to,e.g., but not limited to, receive selections of training routines,and/or to provide output to the user of suggestions, analysis, and/orresults of training efforts.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay further include: at least one processor; and at least one memorycoupled to said processor, wherein said at least one processor isadapted to save and/or retrieve said training routines from said atleast one memory.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay include: wherein said robot is adapted to move said goal withrespect a fixed position of a user.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay include: wherein said goal comprises at least one of: a basketballgoal; a soccer goal; a hockey goal; a field hockey goal; a field goal; alacrosse goal; an intermediary goal; or a target.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay include: wherein said user interface comprises at least one of: amobile device coupled to said robot; a wireless device coupled to saidrobot; a computing device coupled to said robot; a communications devicecoupled to said robot; a tablet device coupled to said robot; atelephone device coupled to said robot; a personal digitalassistant-based device coupled to said robot; a mobile phone-baseddevice coupled to said robot; a smartphone-based device coupled to saidrobot; a tablet-based device coupled to said robot; or atouchscreen-based device coupled to said robot.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the athletic training apparatusmay include: wherein said user interface comprises at least one of: aweb browser-based application program; an app; an applet; a cloud-basedapplication; a social-media enabled application; or an applicationprogram.

According to one exemplary embodiment the athletic training apparatusmay be adapted for medical or other training use, wherein said athletictraining apparatus may be used to establish a baseline for a patient'shand-eye coordination skills and may also be used to improve them.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a system may capture a baseline,and detect and track cognitive development, tracking the eye-handcoordination development of the athlete, and tracking and aiding indeveloping muscle memory as compared to the baseline measurements, mayanalyze the user's skills development, tracking development of theathlete over time, e.g., at 6 years, 12 years, etc., tracking whataffects development, positively and negatively, capturing e.g., diseasesand effects of injury on development, analyzing to identify raw abilityvs. trained ability, evaluating traits and evaluating for performanceout of a normal assessment area. The system may include an expertsystem, which may iteratively improve by analyzing training that yieldsimproved results, and tailoring training for other users based on theobserved successes.

According to another exemplary embodiment, robotic sports interactionsmay be provided, where a human may compete against a robotic machine, oron a robotically controlled platform, etc.

A personified sporting goal apparatus can include: at least one sportinggoal device, wherein said at least one sporting goal device comprises:at least one processor; at least one memory coupled to said at least oneprocessor; at least one of at least one input or at least one outputdevice coupled to said at least one processor; at least one sportinggoal; at least one personified feature, attribute, or movement; and atleast one user interface coupled to said sporting goal device, whereinsaid user interface comprises at least one of: a display device, atleast one input device, at least one output device, a keyboard, or atouchscreen, and wherein said at least one sporting goal device isconfigured to at least one of: enable at least one user to interact withsaid at least one sporting goal device; receive a selection of at leastone sporting goal routine; or receive instructions to control said atleast one sporting goal device. The device can include a robot and/orone or more displays and/or optional speech bubbles.

Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as thestructure and operation of various exemplary embodiments of theinvention, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following, more particular description of anembodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical,functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The leftmost digits in the corresponding reference number indicate the drawingin which an element first appears.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary diagram illustrating an exemplary robotcoupled to an exemplary goal and/or an interface and/or control system,according to an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary side view diagram, illustrating an exemplaryrobot of FIG. 1, and illustrating an exemplary rear side interferencearea, J5 axis rotation center, and motion range of J5 Axis rotationcenter, along with exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be usedin an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 3 depicts another alternative exemplary side view diagram,illustrating an exemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, andillustrating an exemplary rear side interference area, J5 axis rotationcenter, and motion range of J5 Axis rotation center, along withexemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in an exemplaryembodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 4 depicts diagram including an alternative exemplary side viewdiagram, exemplary front view, exemplary back view, and exemplary topview, illustrating an exemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG.1, and illustrating an exemplary rear side interference area, J5 axisrotation center, and motion range of J5 Axis rotation center, along withexemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in an exemplaryembodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative exemplary top view diagram, illustratingan exemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, and illustratingan exemplary rotational extent, +/−165 degrees, as well exemplary, butnonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in an exemplary embodiment of theclaimed invention;

FIG. 6A depicts an alternative exemplary side view diagram, illustratingan exemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, and illustratingan exemplary rotational range, as well exemplary, but nonlimitingdimensions, as may be used in an exemplary embodiment of the claimedinvention;

FIG. 6B depicts an alternative exemplary front view diagram,illustrating an exemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, andillustrating exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in anexemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 7 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram, illustrating anexemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, in this case, anexemplary lacrosse goal, which may be coupled to robot by one or moreexemplary couplers, such as, e.g., but not limited to, removablycouplable, or permanently coupled, members, such as, e.g., but notlimited to, resilient and/or metal members, etc., and illustrating anexemplary precise vertical range of exemplary, but nonlimitingdimensions, in an exemplary embodiment, as may be used in an exemplaryembodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 8 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram, illustrating anexemplary robot as may be coupled to goal of FIG. 1, in this case, anexemplary field hockey goal, which may be coupled to robot by one ormore exemplary couplers, such as, e.g., but not limited to, removablycouplable, or permanently coupled, members, such as, e.g., but notlimited to, resilient and/or metal members, etc., and illustrating anexemplary, but nonlimiting orientation and dimensions, as may be used inan exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 9 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram, illustrating anexemplary robot as may be coupled to one of various multifunction goalsof FIG. 1, in this case, one of various multifunction goals, such as,basketball backboard and hoop, or the exemplary field hockey goal ofFIG. 8, or the lacrosse goal of FIG. 7, or exemplary soccer goal, and/orice hockey goal, and/or other goal (not shown), any of such exemplarygoals, which may be coupled to robot by one or more exemplary couplers,in an exemplary embodiment including indirectly, and/or directly,couplers and/or connectors, such as, e.g., but not limited to, removablycouplable, or permanently coupled, members, such as, e.g., but notlimited to, resilient and/or metal members, etc., and illustrating anexemplary, but nonlimiting orientation and dimensions, as may be used inan exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 10 depicts a diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecturediagram illustrating an exemplary hardware platform, exemplarymiddleware and/or driver software, exemplary operating system, andvarious exemplary applications, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 depicts a diagram illustrating an exemplary display depicting anexemplary graphical user interface operating system environment (suchas, e.g., but not limited to, Windows 8, etc.), a web browser and/orapplication environment (such as, e.g., but not limited to, MSFTInternet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox, JAVA, FLASH, etc.,and/or an application and/or applet, and/or program sport exerciseinterface subsystem application, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 depicts a diagram of an exemplary screenshot of an exemplarysport exercise subsystem application, including an exemplary trainingrobot graphical user interface (GUI) interface to robot and goal systemof FIG. 1, illustrating exemplary prompts, and exemplary input fields,as well as, exemplary pull down buttons, and keypad selectors, as wellas, exemplary pause resume buttons, as well as exemplary save trainingsession, and/or recall saved training session exemplary buttons as maybe provided in an exemplary user interface display of one exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 13 depicts a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of anintermediary goal coupled to the exemplary athletic training systemdepicted in FIG. 1, wherein the user throws, for example, a footballand/or a baseball through the goal on route to the balls finaldestination, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 depicts an exemplary diagram illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a made or miss sensor within an exemplary basketballapplication, and the use of an exemplary proximity sensor coupled to theexemplary athletic training device, as well as an exemplary possibleconfiguration of the exemplary user interface with the exemplary sensordata displayed, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment, of an exemplary sensinginterface with an exemplary array of a plurality of exemplary sensors,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16A depicts another exemplary embodiment of another exemplarysensing interface, with another exemplary array of an exemplaryplurality of exemplary sensors and/or indicators, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16B depicts an exemplary diagram of an exemplary goal and/or hoopwith associated sensors, and/or indicators, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 17 depicts various exemplary sensors as may be used in variousexemplary embodiments of the present invention, including exemplary butnonlimiting touch sensors, light sensors, color sensors, and ultrasonicsensors, according to various exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 18 depicts exemplary sensor circuitry for an exemplary touchsensor, and and exemplary light sensor, according to various exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary illustration of an exemplary improvedhomeplate having exemplary illumination features;

FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary illustration of an exemplary tunnelthree-dimensional (3D) scanner pitching trainer system, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D depict various exemplary illustrations ofan exemplary personified sporting goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 22 depicts an illustration of an exemplary personified sportinggoal, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 depicts various exemplary emotions and/or emotional facialgestures, as may be combined in various exemplary embodiments with asporting goal, as nonlimiting example embodiments;

FIG. 24 depicts an example mascot and/or toy based example personifiedsporting goal, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 25 depicts an example personified sporting goal, embodimentincluding a flat display screen (such as, e.g., but not limited to, anLCD screen with LED backlight, video content in combination with asporting goal, example personified sporting goal, according to anotherexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 depicts an example user interface for illustrating example UIcontrollable features of an example personified sporting goal, accordingto an example embodiment;

FIG. 27 depicts an example embodiment of an example group of electronicand mechanical components, as well as communications and networkingcomponents (including wireless links to allow user and/or programmable,and/or artificial intelligence based programmable controlled personifiedsporting goal manipulation, adjustment and example movement ofappendages, as well as gestures, and emotional interactions, accordingto an example embodiment;

FIG. 28 depicts a diagram illustrating various exemplary embodiments ofvarious exemplary personified sporting goals, according to an exemplaryembodiment,

FIG. 29 depicts an exemplary diagram illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a personified sporting field goal, (with virtual and/orreal personified enhancements) according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 depicts an exemplary swimming athletic training system includingan exemplary robotic arm coupled to an exemplary tube and/or cylinderand/or compartment for analyzing a swimmer, and/or can be coupled viathe robot to analyze drag, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 31 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a basketball dribblingpractice robot according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 32A and 32B depict exemplary embodiments of multiple basket goalsaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32C depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal orientation, with an example single robot tocontrol the continuously movable goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 32D depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary vertical orientation, with an example single robot to controlthe continuously movable goal, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32E depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal orientation, with an example plurality of robots tocontrol the continuously movable goals, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 32F depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal or vertical orientation, with an example singlerobot with a plurality of end effectors to control the continuouslymovable goals, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 33 depicts an example stadium with example multiple goals (circlesA-D), example court polygon shapes, such as elliptical and rectangular,the stadium can be an amphitheater arrangement with one or more seats(squares G-U), and an array of cameras (boxes 1-16) catching thecompetition, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 34A depicts an exemplary enclosure illustrating an exemplary pairof exemplary enclosures in a row, aligned end to end, in a line,according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 34B depicts an exemplary enclosure illustrating an exemplary pairof exemplary enclosures in a side by side exemplary relationship to oneanother, according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 35A depicts an exemplary pair of transmitter/receiver parallelpanels in an exemplary horizontal orientation relationship to oneanother, and coupled via an exemplary data collection system, accordingto an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 35B depicts an exemplary pair of transmitter/receiver parallelpanels in an exemplary vertical orientation relationship to one another,and coupled via an exemplary data collection system, according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed in detailbelow. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should beunderstood that this is done for illustration purposes only. Exemplarymeans example for purposes of this application, and various embodimentsneed not include all features as described herein. A person skilled inthe relevant art will recognize that other components and configurationscan be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Introduction to Athletic Training Systems and Sporting Goals and RelatedSystems

Example conventional training systems include, U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,175,U.S. Pat. No. D321,370, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,023, 5,800,291, 5,890,985,8,152,660, U.S. Pat. No. D539,373, U.S. Pat. No. D 510,112, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,989,862, 6,579,197, 5,485,993, and US Patent Publication2012/0142458, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Such systems seek to provide a simulatedenvironment for an athlete, however none of these exemplary conventionalsystems achieves the goal of providing a real in game experience for anathlete training for a sport in a limited area, according to variousexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Overview of Various Exemplary Embodiments

According to one exemplary embodiment, a computer implemented apparatus,system, method and/or computer program product to provide a roboticallycontrolled moveable backboard and hoop for athletic training. Accordingto other exemplary embodiments, other goals than a basketball hoop andbackboard may be used, coupled to an exemplary robot including goals,such as, e.g., but not limited to, ice hockey, soccer, field hockey,football, lacrosse, etc.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a moving hoop or target may allowthe player to develop and practice dynamic shooting without the fatigueassociated with accelerating and decelerating the player's body witheach dynamic practice shot.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention may allow a player to stay inone position and practice the same dynamic eye hand coordination as ifthey were moving, without a lot of fatigue because the hoop is movinginstead of the player. It is appreciated, according to an exemplaryembodiment, that whether the player is moving or the hoop is moving itis the relationship between the two that is critical in developingdynamic eye-hand coordination.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention may allow the hoop to move inany of an exemplary 5-axis directions in relation to a stationary playerjust as a player can move in any 5-axis directions in relation to astationary hoop or goal. The velocity and acceleration/deceleration ofthe hoop can also be modified and/or adjusted just as a player canaccelerate and decelerate while shooting, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Various pre-programmed and/or customized training sessionsmay be provided, accessed, and/or stored and/or retrieved from memory,randomized, and/or shuffled, etc., for an almost endless variety oftraining possibilities, according to various exemplary embodiments.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a robot capable of movement inmultiple positions in a multidimensional space such as, e.g., but notlimited to, at least a two dimensional, and/or a 3 dimensional (orgreater) coordinate space. According to an exemplary embodiment, therobot may be coupled to the goal at an extremity of the robot. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the robot may move in multiple areas and inmultiple degrees of freedom by any of various well known methodsincluding, e.g., but not limited to, rotationally, by motors, gears,armatures, and/or chains, and/or pneumatics and/or hydraulics, etc., asis well known in the art.

The system, according to an exemplary embodiment, may come with anexemplary user friendly simple pc or other computer based userinterface, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a graphical user interface(GUI), where the player can direct the hoop to move in each of theexemplary 5-axes within the reach limits of the robot, according to oneexemplary embodiment. The robot, according to an exemplary embodiment,can make all these movements while maintaining a constant axis of travelsuch as in the horizontal height of 10 feet, according to an exemplaryembodiment. The speed of the hoop can be adjusted as appropriate and themovements may be repeated endlessly, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Once the hoop is in motion, the player can observe themovements of the hoop and practice shooting the ball as it moves,according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a FANUC 2000 IA robot, availablefrom Intelligent Robot Solutions, FANUC Robotics America, Inc., 3900 W.Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, Mich. 48309-3253 USA, or the like, may beused as an exemplary component of an exemplary embodiment. Further, anyconventional athletic goal may be coupled to the exemplary robot by acoupler. Any of various wellknown couplers available may be usedincluding, e.g., but not limited to, removable couplers, fixed couplers,welded direct and/or indirect connections and/or couplings, interfaces,attachment mechanisms such as, e.g., but not limited to, screws, bolts,nuts, washers, snap removable, multifunctional couplers, etc. Indeed, agiven robot may be outfitted with a functional coupler capable of beingcoupled to any of various different types and/or styles of athleticgoals, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to an exemplaryembodiment, a basketball goal may be removed from a robot's removablecoupler and an American football field goal post may be then coupled tothe coupler to be used with the robot.

The exemplary robot mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment, canbe fixed to a floor, wall or ceiling or it can be portable such as,e.g., but not limited to, when mounted on a platform with exemplarywheels, and/or drive mechanisms, and/or support legs, and/or outriggersfor stability, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the robot may be capable of veryprecise, repeatable movements allowing for ease of repetition oftraining exercises.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the robot athletic training devicemay be capable of being programmed using any of various well knowprogramming techniques. The robot, according to an exemplary embodimentmay be coupled to any of various well-known input and/or output and/orcontrol systems. Exemplary, but not limiting, input systems may include,e.g., but not limited to, sensors, movement sensors, location sensors,rotational sensors, etc. Exemplary, but not limiting, output systems mayinclude, e.g., but not limited to, motors, gears, hydraulics, arms,legs, joints, pneumatics, air and/or fluid and/or gas moment systems,etc. Exemplary, but not limiting, robotic control systems may include,e.g., but not limited to, computer processor(s), computer memory(ies),computing hardware, computing software, operating systems, programminglanguages and/or environments, communications and networking capability,database(s), wireless and/or wired communications networking, access tointernally stored exercise routines, access by network and/or Internet,and/or cloud-based exercise routines and/or programmable routines,and/or graphical user interface(s), and/or mobile and/or touch basedsystem environments, and/or worldwide web and/or other applicationprogram environment applications, apps, or programs, etc. According toan exemplary embodiment, an exemplary device may include a robot coupledto a sporting goal device. According to an exemplary sporting device,the sporting goal device may include, e.g., but not limited to, abackboard and hoop for basketball, a goal for soccer, a goal for icehockey, field hockey, a goal for lacrosse, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a robot may include any of variouswell known robots available from any of various well known roboticmanufacturers, such as, e.g., but not limited to, Intelligent RobotSolutions, FANUC Robotics America, Inc., 3900 W. Hamlin Road, RochesterHills, Mich. 48309-3253 USA, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment the athletic training system mayalso be used for medical purposes, that involve training patients'hand-eye coordination skills.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary diagram 100 illustrating an exemplary robot102 coupled to an exemplary goal 104 and/or an interface and/or controlsystem, according to an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.According to an exemplary embodiment, the robot 102 may be coupled to ansports goal 104, and/or an interface system 124-130.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention, exemplaryrobot 102 may include, e.g., but not be limited to, a exemplary FANUC2000 IA robot, according to an exemplary embodiment, coupled to anexemplary sporting goal 104. According to an exemplary embodiment, robot102 may include one or more sub components, as shown, such as, e.g., butnot limited to, a base, any of various hydraulics 118, and/or pneumaticand/or control cables 142, and/or any of various joints and/or gears108, 110, 112, 114, and/or 116. According to an exemplary embodiment,the robot may rotate and/or move in multiple degrees of freedom,programmatically via any of various well-known programming routinesand/or programs as may be loaded, stored and/or retrieved from and to acontrol system 106 for the robot 102. According to an exemplary, but notlimiting embodiment, control system 106 of robot 102 may include aninterface to any of various exemplary user accessible devices 124, 126,128, 130, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a computing device 124and/or storage and/or database 140, and/or output device 138 and/orinput device (not shown) such as, e.g., not limited to, a touchscreen ondisplay 138, a keyboard (not shown), tablet, and/or pen-based and/orstylus-based, and/or mouse (not shown), and/or any of various otherwell-known such input and/or output (I/O) devices, smart phone and/orother telephony and/or portable device 126, tablet 128, and/or pointingdevice such as, e.g., pen and/or stylus (shown but not labeled), and/ornotebook and/or laptop 130, according to various exemplary embodiments,etc. A user, (shown but not labeled) may interact with any of thevarious exemplary interface devices to program, and/or access trainingroutines, which may be made accessible via user interfaces on any of thedevices, which as shown in an exemplary embodiment, may be coupled inexemplary wired fashion over coupling devices 134 such as, e.g., but notlimited to, wire(s), cable(s), networking hub(s), router(s), gateway(s),bridge(s), and/or wirelessly via access point(s) 136 and/or otherwell-known communications networks and/or topologies via communicationslinks 140 in the case of wireless communication and/or other means viawired communication, locally at 106, and/or remotely via a network 132,which may include any of various physical devices corresponding to alogical network which may include reference generally in aggregate as acloud, and/or network, and/or intra, extra, or internet, such as, e.g.,the global Internet.

A goal 104, according to an exemplary embodiment, may include abasketball backboard 120 and hoop 122, according to one exemplaryembodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the hoop 122 may be coupled tothe exemplary backboard 120 by one or more couplers 144, which maydirectly, and/or indirectly, couple and/or connect, the hoop 122 to thebackboard 120. As shown, the backboard 120 may be further coupled to therobot 102 by a coupler 146 as may couple, according to an exemplaryembodiment the backboard 120 and/or hoop 122 to an end piece 116 ofrobot 102.

FIG. 2 depicts exemplary side view diagram 200, illustrating anexemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 of FIG. 1, andillustrating an exemplary rear side interference area, J5 axis rotationcenter, and motion range of J5 Axis rotation center, along withexemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in an exemplaryembodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 3 depicts another alternative exemplary side view diagram 300,illustrating an exemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 ofFIG. 1, and illustrating an exemplary rear side interference area, J5axis rotation center, and motion range of J5 Axis rotation center, alongwith exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in anexemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 4 depicts diagram 400 including an alternative exemplary side viewdiagram 406, exemplary front view 402, exemplary back view 404, andexemplary top view 408, illustrating an exemplary robot 102 as may becoupled to goal 104 of FIG. 1, and illustrating an exemplary rear sideinterference area, J5 axis rotation center, and motion range of J5 Axisrotation center, along with exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, asmay be used in an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative exemplary top view diagram 500,illustrating an exemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 ofFIG. 1, and illustrating an exemplary rotational extent, +/−165 degrees,as well exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in anexemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 6A depicts an alternative exemplary side view diagram 600,illustrating an exemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 ofFIG. 1, and illustrating an exemplary rotational range, as wellexemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as may be used in an exemplaryembodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 6B depicts an alternative exemplary front view diagram 610,illustrating an exemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 ofFIG. 1, and illustrating exemplary, but nonlimiting dimensions, as maybe used in an exemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram 600, illustrating anexemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 of FIG. 1, in thiscase, an exemplary lacrosse goal 710, which may be coupled to robot 102by one or more exemplary couplers 720, such as, e.g., but not limitedto, removably couplable, or permanently coupled, members, such as, e.g.,but not limited to, resilient and/or metal members 720 etc., andillustrating an exemplary precise vertical range of exemplary, butnonlimiting dimensions, of approximately, about 4200 mm 730, in anexemplary embodiment, as may be used in an exemplary embodiment of theclaimed invention.

FIG. 8 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram 800, illustrating anexemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 of FIG. 1, in thiscase, an exemplary field hockey goal 810, which may be coupled to robot102 by one or more exemplary couplers 820, such as, e.g., but notlimited to, removably couplable, or permanently coupled, members, suchas, e.g., but not limited to, resilient and/or metal members 820 etc.,and illustrating an exemplary, but nonlimiting orientation anddimensions, as may be used in an exemplary embodiment of the claimedinvention.

FIG. 7 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram 600, illustrating anexemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to goal 104 of FIG. 1, in thiscase, an exemplary lacrosse goal 710, which may be coupled to robot 102by one or more exemplary couplers 720, such as, e.g., but not limitedto, removably couplable, or permanently coupled, members, such as, e.g.,but not limited to, resilient and/or metal members 720 etc., andillustrating an exemplary precise vertical range of exemplary, butnonlimiting dimensions, of approximately, about 4200 mm 730, in anexemplary embodiment, as may be used in an exemplary embodiment of theclaimed invention.

FIG. 9 depicts an alternative exemplary diagram 900, illustrating anexemplary robot 102 as may be coupled to one of various multifunctiongoals 104 of FIG. 1, in this case, one of various multifunction goals104, such as, basketball backboard and hoop 910 a, or the exemplaryfield hockey goal 810 of FIG. 8, or the lacrosse goal 710 of FIG. 7, orexemplary soccer goal 910 b, and/or ice hockey goal 910 c, and/or othergoal (not shown), any of such exemplary goals, which may be coupled torobot 102 by one or more exemplary couplers 920, in an exemplaryembodiment including indirectly, and/or directly, couplers and/orconnectors, such as, e.g., but not limited to, removably couplable, orpermanently coupled, members, such as, e.g., but not limited to,resilient and/or metal members 920 etc., and illustrating an exemplary,but nonlimiting orientation and dimensions, as may be used in anexemplary embodiment of the claimed invention.

Referring back to FIG. 1, which depicts an exemplary embodiment ofdiagram 100 of an exemplary system illustrating an exemplary networkenvironment including computing devices 124-130 coupled to athletictraining robot 102 and goal 104, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. The high-level system block diagram 100 mayinclude, in an exemplary embodiment, users interacting with browsers(not shown) on client user interface devices 124-130 (collectively 102),respectively. A system hardware and software architecture is describedfurther with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 references various exemplaryapplications as may be included in certain exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 10 depicts diagram 1000 illustrating an exemplary systemarchitecture diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware platform 1010,exemplary middleware and/or driver software 1020, exemplary operatingsystem 1030, and various exemplary applications 1040-1084, according toan exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1040 may include anexemplary database management system (DBMS) as may include any ofvarious well known database platforms, in an exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1060 may include anexemplary communications stack and/or web browser environment and/orprogramming and/or execution environments, such as, e.g., but notlimited to JAVA, etc., as may include any of various well knownapplication program platforms, in an exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1070 may include anexemplary sport or athletic training exercise subsystem program, suchas, e.g., but not limited to applications and/or applets and/orweb-based applications, etc., as may include a graphic user interface(GUI) for user interaction with the robot controlled goal, according toan exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1080 may include anexemplary sport robot, exemplary input subsystem program, such as, e.g.,but not limited to applications and/or applets and/or web-basedapplications, etc., as may include, e.g., but not limited to, subsystemsfor handling any of various robotic sensor and/or other inputs forcontrolling input interaction from the robot controlled goal, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1082 may include anexemplary sport robot, exemplary output subsystem program, such as,e.g., but not limited to applications and/or applets and/or web-basedapplications, etc., as may include, e.g., but not limited to, subsystemsfor handling any of various robotic motor and/or other outputs such as,e.g., pneumatic, air and/or fluid pressure systems and/or control systeminterface, for controlling output interactions to the robot controlledgoal, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In an exemplary embodiment application program 1084 may include anexemplary sport robot, exemplary robot control subsystem program, suchas, e.g., but not limited to applications and/or applets and/orweb-based applications, etc., as may include, e.g., but not limited to,subsystems for handling any of various robotic control and/orprogramming and/or robotic running an maintenance environments such as,e.g., but not limited to, various well known robot control softwareapplication system environments such as, e.g., but not limited to,industrial robot programming languages, any exemplary FANUC robotcontrol and programming languages, Labview, Robot C, Lego NXT/G, EV3Labview Programming Environment, etc., and other graphical robotprogramming environments, etc., according to various exemplaryembodiments. According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may programfor an x, y, and z direction, a velocity and/or distance of movement ofthe robot over an exemplary five (5) degrees of freedom of movement.Various pre-programmed scenarios may be stored, and/or accessible, in anexemplary embodiment. Where an exemplary plurality of training programshave been stored, the user may select from one of the stored scenarios,may be assigned a scenario, may be randomly assigned, and/or may beshuffled, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 depicts diagram 1100 illustrating an exemplary display 138depicting an exemplary graphical user interface operating systemenvironment 1102 (such as, e.g., but not limited to, Windows 8, etc.), aweb browser and/or application environment (such as, e.g., but notlimited to, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla,FireFox, JAVA, FLASH, etc., and/or an application and/or applet, and/orprogram sport exercise interface subsystem application 1070, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts diagram 1200 of an exemplary screenshot 1200 of anexemplary sport exercise subsystem 1070 application, including anexemplary training robot graphical user interface (GUI) 1202 interfaceto robot 102 and goal 104 system 100 of FIG. 1, illustrating exemplaryprompts 1204, 1212, 1220, 1228, 1234 and exemplary input fields 1206,1214, 1222, 1230, 1236, and 1244 as well as, exemplary pull down buttons1208, 1216, 1224, and keypad selectors 1232, 1246, as well as, exemplarypause resume buttons, as well as exemplary save training session and/orrecall saved training session exemplary buttons as may be provided in anexemplary display of one exemplary embodiment.

In one embodiment an application program may include a browser. Abrowser can be, e.g., but not limited to, one or more applicationsoftware programs executing on computer workstations or other computerprocessor based devices 124-130 (including mobile devices such as, e.g.,but not limited to, communication devices, phones, smartphones, tablets,and/or computer tablets), which may be coupled via a network 132 (inwireline and/or wireless fashion) to other devices, as shown, in anexemplary embodiment. Workstations 124-130 can be coupled via a network132 such as, e.g., but not limited to, an internet, and intranet, oranother type of network. In an exemplary embodiment network 132 mayinclude the global Internet. Network 132 may provide access for clientdevices 124-130 to gain access to, e.g., but not limited to, one or moreapplication servers 111 a, 111 b (collectively 111, not shown), such as,e.g., but not limited to, a database management system (DBMS) as may berepresented by exemplary database 140. Although a client server topologyis discussed any of various other well-known types of communicationstopologies may also be used such as, e.g., but not limited to,point-to-point, peer-to-peer, cloud-based, software as a service (SAAS),browser-based, hierarchical, distributed, and/or centralized, etc. Theapplication server 111 can manage one or more databases (collectively140). In an exemplary embodiment, the application server 111 can accessan exemplary database(s) 140 having a plurality of data records, wherein an exemplary embodiment, each data record may have one or morefields, etc. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that eachdatabase 140 can be part of a larger database, or could be broken into aplurality of separate subdatabases. In an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, search results can include a plurality of recordsobtained from the database 140 that meet search criteria included in asearch query. Network 132 may be coupled to any of various well-knowncomponents such as, e.g., but not limited to, one or more load balancingdevices or firewall devices 107 (not shown), web server(s) 109 (notshown), application server(s) 111 (not shown), routers, gateways,physical layer devices, data link layer devices, and/or network layerdevices, etc. (not shown).

As illustrated, web servers 109 and application servers 111 may becoupled to one another via one or more network(s) 132. Although network132, in an exemplary embodiment, may be downstream of load balancingdevices 105 (not shown), it is also possible to have a network upstreamof load balancing devices 105, coupling, e.g., but not limited to,application server(s) 111, web server(s) 109, and/or database(s) 140, aswell as other client or other server devices (not shown), local and/orremote from the depicted exemplary devices, etc. Exemplary clientdevices 124-130 may be thought of as downstream over an exemplarynetwork(s) 132 from the server devices, but could easily be elsewhere inthe network topology, e.g., inside, or outside a firewall. It is alsoimportant to note that network 132 is represented in cloud metaphorschematic, but various well-known network devices including variouswell-known star-based, star wired ring, bus-based 134, or otherwell-known network topologies may also be represented by exemplarynetwork(s) 132.

A user interacting with a browser on workstation 124-130 can access thedatabase 140, in an exemplary embodiment by traversing severalintervening networks using well known communications protocols such as,e.g., but not limited to, transmission control protocol/internetprotocol (TCP/IP). Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, theworkstation 124-130 can be coupled via exemplary network(s) 132including, e.g., but not limited to, a public and/or private network,and/or the global Internet to any of various exemplary websitesystem(s), in this exemplary case, web server(s) 109, which may includeany of various hosting systems such as, e.g., but not limited to, adomain system, a domain name server (DNS), a domain controller system,etc. Web site or web server system 109 in an exemplary embodiment. Thewebsite system 109 can include, in an exemplary embodiment, an exemplaryfirewall coupled to, or in addition to, or integrated with, a loadbalancer 105 (which could alternatively run on a general-purposecomputer such as, e.g., web server 109, etc. Load balancer 105 can becoupled to an exemplary web server 109. Web servers 109 can be meshcoupled to one or more application servers 111, via hardware and/orsoftware system solutions, according to an exemplary embodiment, or viaanother network 132 (not shown). Each server 138, 109, 111 may include,e.g., but not limited to, or be coupled to, one or more database(s) 140.Web server(s) 109 in an exemplary embodiment, can perform load balancingfunctions by transferring user application requests/queries to one ormore of the application servers 111. Results of the exemplary requestsand/or queries from database 140 can be transferred from applicationservers 111 through web servers 109 through the network 132 toworkstation 126-130.

An athletic training application program, and/or web-based and/orJAVA-based applet, and/or portal application program and/or links to theportal, may be integrated and/or embedded into other well-knowncollaborative, and/or social networking environments or applicationssuch as, e.g., but not limited to, web-template based, hypertext markuplanguage (HTML), and/or mobile OS application formats (e.g., iOS, and/orAndroid, and/or Windows 8), etc., and/or Facebook, LinkedIn, LotusLive,Microsoft Exchange/Sharepoint, GoogleTalk, GoogleVoice, Skype, Facetime,Google+, and/or video teleconferencing, Voxeo, SalesForce.com, CRMsystems, etc., and/or other network environments, social mediaenvironments, communications environments, and/or collaborativeenvironments, etc.

Any illustration of exemplary fixed images, and/or exemplaryarrangements of the exemplary portal is merely exemplary, butnonlimiting, as video means, audio means, and/or a combination ofaudio/video streams and/or other content may also be used to enableefficient user interaction, according to various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary diagram 1300 illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of an intermediary goal 1302, which may be coupled to anexemplary robot 102. According to an exemplary, but nonlimitingembodiment, the illustration shows a user 1304 throwing a footballthrough the intermediary goal 1302 (collectively referring to any ofvarious exemplary illustrated intermediate goals including, e.g., butnot limited to, a substantially circular intermediate target 1302 a, apolygon, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a triangle, an isosceles,equilateral, right and/or scalar, and/or substantially rectangular,quadrilateral and/or parallelogram, and/or square, or rhombus, or thelike shaped, intermediate goal 1302 b, and/or an oval and/or othershaped such as, e.g., but not limited to, other polygon shapedintermediate target 1302 c, according to exemplary, nonlimiting exampleembodiments) to a final target in this case person 1306. The use of anintermediate target 1302 a, 1302 b, 1302 c (collectively “1302”)(coupled to an exemplary robot 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, respectively) mayserve to assist the thrower in developing muscle memory, and fromlearning through the repeatability of the activity. According to oneexemplary embodiment, the intermediate target 1302 may be coupled to therobot 102 and may be controllable by a coach's instructions, orpreprogrammed routine to direct the thrower, not only to reach a finalgoal 1306, but to make the ball follow a desired path through theintermediate goal 1302. Exemplary intermediate goals can be used, e.g.,but not limited to, for football, basketball, golf, baseball, soccer,hockey, etc., FRISBEE flying disc golf and/or ultimate, etc.

FIG. 14 depicts diagram 1400 illustrating another exemplary embodimentof an exemplary use of exemplary sensor devices (1404, 1406, 1408),which according to an exemplary embodiment, may be coupled to anexemplary embodiment of the athletic training device 102, and/or a userinterface (UI) 1402, which may be coupled by wires or wirelessly (notshown), and the UI 1402 may display sensor data obtained from thesensing devices 1404, 1406, and/or 1408, such as, for example, any madeand/or missed data, and, and/or proximity of the user to the target,which may be displayed, e.g., but not limited to, in a unit of measuresuch as, e.g., but not limited to, meters, centimeters, inches, and/orfeet. Exemplary sensor devices 1404-1408 and exemplary sensors arediscussed below with reference to FIGS. 15-18. The UI 1402 device asdepicted may include an output device such as, e.g., but not limited to,a display monitor, and/or touch screen, etc. The UI device 1402, may notonly include an output device, as shown, or otherwise, such as motors,lights, display screens, etc., but may rather further include one ormore input devices, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a sensor, akeyboard, touchscreen, etc., as well as a robotic brain such as, e.g.but not limited to, one or more computer processor(s), a memory, and/ora communications bus, and/or interface to other components (not shown).FIG. 14 depicts exemplary proximity measurements between a ball andtarget, a ball and robot, a user and target, a user and robot, etc.,according to various exemplary embodiments, by which such capturedsensor data can be used, e.g., to analyze, e.g., but not limited to,accuracy at certain distances, distances when shots are taken, safedistances and/or perimeters about a robot and/or a goal, etc.

FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment, of an exemplary sensinginterface 1500 with an exemplary array of a plurality of exemplarysensors 1504, which may be coupled to a substrate or other sensorhousing 1502, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to oneexemplary embodiment an array of sensing regions may detect a ballcoming into proximity to a particular portion of the sensor housing1502, or sensors 1504. For example, an exemplary sensor 1504 may includea touch sensor, which similar to a key on a keyboard, or portion of atouchscreen, may detect contact with the sensor. As another exemplarysensor 1504, a light sensor may sense something coming into proximity ofthe light or color sensor, and the object (such as a ball), may causegenerated light to be reflected from a light source, into the lightsensor. Alternatively, an expected light source, which is theninterfered with by an object, may be detected by a receiving sensor,which recognizes that an expected light signal is no longer being sensed(similar to a garage door light sensor, used to interrupt closing of agarage door on an infant, etc.). Other types of sensors such as, e.g.,but not limited to, an ultrasonic sensor may be used to send off anultrasonic sound wave, which may bounce off of a person or object(ball), and may via an ultrasonic transceiver/transducer, may identifythe distance from the sensor of the person or object from which theultrasonic sound wave may be bouncing off.

FIG. 16A depicts an exemplary diagram 1600 illustrating anotherexemplary embodiment of another exemplary sensing interface 1602, withanother exemplary array of an exemplary plurality of exemplary sensorsand/or indicators 1604, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16A depicts, in detail, another exemplary embodiment of anotherexemplary sensing interface, with another exemplary array of anexemplary plurality of exemplary sensors 1604 and/or indicators (whichmay, e.g., but not limited to, indicate an area where a ball or otherprojectile may have impacted the sensing surface), arranged according toan exemplary embodiment across an exemplary surface area, in anexemplary two-dimensional array fashion, according to an exemplaryembodiment. According to another exemplary embodiment, the sensors 1604may be arranged in mutually exclusive annular rings about an exemplarybullseye (and/or similar to an archery and/or dart board target and/orshooting and/or biathlon, etc.), as shown in FIG. 14, according toanother exemplary embodiment. According to one exemplary embodiment,sensing device 1602 may be placed atop, below, in front of, behind,and/or within, or without a goal such as, e.g., but not limited to, asshown in 1404, 1406, and/or 1408, of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16B depicts an exemplary diagram 1610 of an exemplary goal and/orhoop 1612, with associated sensors, and/or indicators 1614, according toan exemplary embodiment. An exemplary annular ring embodiment with oneor more sensors arranged about the exemplary annular ring is only anexample. Other example embodiments may be rectangular, polygonal,triangular, etc., as can be apparent to those skilled in the relevantart. According to exemplary embodiments, sensors 1614 may be arrangednot only on a flat surface, such as the top of an exemplary basketballhoop, but may be on other surfaces, such as, e.g., but not limited to,an interior and/or exterior surface, such as an inside or outside of anexemplary truncated conical basket of an exemplary basketball hoopembodiment, or the edges, inside or outside of a hockey net, etc. Somesensors in an exemplary embodiment may also serve as indicators, andsome indicator devices may also have a sensing aspect, but in someexemplary embodiments, an indicator and/or sensor may only serve asingular purpose. Exemplary indicators may include light emitting diode(LED)-based lighting elements such as, e.g., but not limited to, solidstate semiconductor LED.

FIG. 17 depicts illustrations 1700 of various well known, exemplarysensors 1702, 1706, 1712, 1718, and/or 1724, as may be used in variousexemplary embodiments of the present invention, including exemplarysensing devices as illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, above. Exemplary sensorsillustrated may include, e.g., but may not be limited to exemplary touchsensors 1702, exemplary light sensors 1706, exemplary color sensors1712, 1718, and/or exemplary ultrasonic sensors 1726, etc., according tovarious exemplary embodiments. The depicted sensors are well knownsensors available from LEGO Mindstorms and/or EV3 Robotics kits, andserve merely as examples of well known sensor technologies as may beintegrated into an exemplary sensing device 1404, 1406, 1408, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary touch sensor 1702 may include a touch actuator 1704, whichwhen depressed and/or compressed, may cause the sensor 1702 to notify acoupled device that a touch has been sensed, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary light sensor 1706 may include a passive device (not shown)which may detect light crossing a photoelectric cell such as, e.g., butnot limited to, a Cadmium sensor, and/or may include an active device1706 as shown, including a light source 1708, which may generate light,which may then reflect off of an exemplary surface, and may be reflectedback into an exemplary light sensor 1710, which may detect thereflection of the light created by light source 1708.

Exemplary color sensor 1712 may include an exemplary passive sensingdevice (not shown) which may detect colored light crossing aphotoelectric cell such as a Cadmium sensor, or an electronic camerasensor, etc., and/or may include an active device 1712, 1718 as shown,including an exemplary light source 1714, 1720, respectively, which maygenerate light, which may then reflect off of an exemplary surface suchas, e.g., but not limited to, an exterior of a ball, puck, projectile,etc., and may be reflected back into an exemplary color and/or lightsensor 1716, 1722, respectively, which may detect the reflection of thelight created by light source 1714, 1720.

Exemplary ultrasonic sensor 1724 may include an exemplary passivesensing device (not shown) which may detect via an exemplary transceiver(receiver and/or transmitter) and/or transducer, etc., and/or mayinclude an active device 1724 as shown, including an exemplarytransceiver and/or transducer 1726 which may generate ultrasonic waves,which may then reflect off of an exemplary surface such as, e.g., butnot limited to, a ball, etc., and/or may be reflected back into thereceiver portion of the transceiver/transducer, which may detect thereflection of the ultrasonic wave in the sensor 1726.

Various other well-known exemplary sensors may be used without partingfrom the scope of the claimed inventions.

FIG. 18 depicts exemplary sensor circuitry for an exemplary touch sensorcircuit 1802, and/or an exemplary light sensor 1804 (potions of whichmay be used with an exemplary color sensor, and/or ultrasonic sensor,etc.), according to various exemplary embodiments.

An example circuit 1802 as may be included within an exemplary touchsensor 1702 is illustrated in an exemplary schematic diagram ofexemplary circuit 1802, which may include a contact switch, whichaccording to an exemplary embodiment, may be held open with a springand/or other biasing member, and may be, e.g., but not limited to, becoupled, and/or wired in series with an exemplary load resistor, e.g.,500 ohm resistor, etc., as shown, and may upon being touched, may closethe circuit shown in 1802. The circuit 1802 may be closed by, e.g., butnot limited to, upon the spring switch being compressed, according to anexemplary embodiment. An example touch sensor 1702 may detect whetherthe actuator 1704 of the sensor is being pressed, has been bumped,and/or has been released, according to an exemplary embodiment. Theso-called brain and/or computer processor of the robotic device may uponactuation of the actuator 1704, may sense the closed switch 1802, andmay upon such sensing may register that the actuation was sensed bylogging, e.g., but not limited to, a time, and form of actuation sensed,etc.

FIG. 18 also depicts an exemplary circuit 1804 illustrating an examplecircuitry 1804 for an example light sensor 1706. The example lightsensor 1706 is a powered sensor, meaning the light sensor 1706 mayrequire power to run its circuitry 1804. These example Lego sensors onlyhave two wires connecting them, thus the two wires must be used both tosend power to, and receive signals from, the sensor. Polarity can alsobe an issue given that connectors may allow sensors (input devices) (andmotors (or other output devices)) to be attached in any one of fourdifferent orientations. These complications are handled by a combinationof a special circuit comprised of a diode bridge (2, 3, 13) on the leftside of circuit 1804, and a storage capacitor (10) and special softwarethat rapidly switches between driving the circuitry and reading off thesensed values. The capacitor stores enough power so that the circuit maycontinue to function when the sensor 1706 is being read. The lightsensor 1706 is said to be an active sensor in that it not only senseslight using sensor 1710, but it also provides a source of light 1708,i.e., it does not rely passively on a source of light.

Another example sensor may include, as discussed above with reference toFIG. 17, a color sensor 1712, which may in addition to sensing lightsimilar to light sensor 1706, may also sense a range of reflected color,using color sensors 1716, and may also include a light source 1714,making it an active sensing device.

Yet another example sensor, as discussed above with reference to FIG.17, may include color sensor 1718, which may include light source 1720,and light/color sensor 1722.

Another type of sensor, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 17, isan exemplary ultrasonic sensor 1724, (a transceiver and/or transducer,etc.) may use an ultrasonic sensor 1726 to generate an ultrasonicsignal, which the sensor may also detect, which may be used to detect agiven distance. can measure the distance from the sensor to somethingthat it is facing, and detect movement. An example ultrasonic sensor candetermine a distance such as, e.g., in centimeters, or inches. Themaximum distance of an example Lego ultrasonic sensor can measure 233 cmwith a precision of 3 centimeters. The ultrasonic sensor works bysending out ultrasonic sound waves that bounce off an object ahead of itand then back. The sensor senses the time it took for the ultrasonicwave to reflect. This example sensor is accurate at detecting flatsurfaces. Various other sensors may also be used including, e.g., butnot limited to, a location based sensor, a global positioning system(GPS), and/or a gyro sensor, accelerometer, rangefinder, locationsensor, altimeter, etc.

Various Exemplary Embodiments of an Exemplary Athletic Training System

According to one exemplary embodiment, an exemplary backboard 1502 (seeFIG. 15) with sensors 1504 can, in one exemplary embodiment include ahoop 1404 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 14), 1612 with sensors 1614 (see FIG.16B). According to an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary sensors becoupled to exemplary indicators to visually indicate when the sensorsenses contact or the close proximity of the ball.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary sensor may include anexemplary integrated indicator(s) that may display, e.g., by light,etc., any sensors which were contacted, and may register and store anysuch exemplary contact, so as to record or store for late access orcomparison, and/or for a longer time, up to permanently and may display,e.g., but not limited to, temporarily, an exemplary sensed area that mayhave been contacted along with any other exemplary relative informationsuch as, e.g., but not limited to, impact pressure, velocity and/orangle of impact and/or number of impacts and/or score as an exemplarydisplayed alphanumeric character(s) or phrase, and/or other indicatorsuch as, e.g., a chart and/or graph such as, e.g., but not limited to, agraph, a bar chart, a line chart, a pie chart, etc. According to anexemplary embodiment, the information may be displayed on a displayassociated with the device, and/or or may be pushed to be displayed onan exemplary other device, such as, e.g., but not limited to, anexemplary wearable device, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a wristwearable device, a smartphone, a fitness band, a fitness bracelet,digital watch, smart watch, mobile device, Google Glass, head updisplay, smart glasses, holographic lens, hololens, augmented reality,virtual reality, etc. Exemplary information about an exemplarytrajectory could also be captured, as well as, e.g., but not limited to,the motion of the player as they propel the object and/or projectile,and/or ball towards the target and/or goal.

In one exemplary embodiment, an exemplary light, etc. may illuminateindicating a particular region, and may change when a change is sensed.For example, an exemplary strikezone of an exemplary baseball homeplatemay be equipped with one or more illumination devices (e.g., light orlaser beams), which according to an exemplary embodiment may illuminatean exemplary strike zone, e.g., but not limited to, in an exemplaryparticular light such as, e.g., red, using, e.g., but not limited to,color lasers, and may, e.g., but not limited to, when sensing a ball inany particular area of the strikezone, may so indicate using, e.g. butnot limited to, a different color light, such as, e.g., a blue light,etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, a strikezone can be displayedvia an additional display and/or an exemplary augmented reality forusers with a smartphone in an example stadium.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ball may be equipped with one or moresensors, which may register whether any portion of the ball entered theexemplary illuminated strikezone, and may definitively confirm oroverrule a called strike by an umpire in an exemplary baseballembodiment.

According to another exemplary embodiment, exemplary lights, LEDs,and/or other indicators on, e.g., but not limited to, the backboardand/or goal can be used to indicate the exemplary intended objective inrelation to the whole goal, according to an exemplary embodiment. So,the exemplary indicated intended objective may, e.g., but not limitedto, alternate between, e.g., corners, or the center or follow aprogression of variable other exemplary locations to, e.g., test, notjust the ability to hit the goal, but to also, more accurately hit aspecific intended targeted area of the goal, that can be adjusted,and/or adjusted automatically, and/or via an exemplary selection, etc.According to an exemplary embodiment, a strike zone and/or personifiedsporting goal can be displayed via an additional display and/or anexemplary augmented reality for users with a smartphone in an examplestadium.

According to another exemplary embodiment, an exemplary medicalassessment may be provided, e.g., to provide an exemplary baseline forskills and to provide an exemplary means of assessment to determineeffects of an athlete's injury and/or to, e.g., gauge the status ofrecovery from an injury, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment,aspects may also be used to assess other abilities, disabilities, and/orimpairments, etc., that may be due to aging, drug use, other outsideinfluence, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary robot can be mountedon a system of exemplary rails, and/or other motors, wheel(s), gear(s),belt(s), and/or chain(s), etc., -driven mobility enabler(s), and/ormeans of movement, so that the robot can dynamically move within anexemplary range of motion, and/or not always have to remain stationaryin a specific location.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary backboard could haveflags that can, e.g., hang down, etc., that may wave as the goal movesto provide an indication of velocity and changes in velocity.

According to an exemplary embodiment, various exemplary sizes of targetsand goals may be provided.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an addition feature enablingmeasuring of an exemplary impact and/or pressure forces a blocker canplace on the exemplary robot such as, e.g., when they block in football.The exemplary device can have an exemplary padded portion coupled to therobot, with exemplary pressure sensors, among other possible sensors,and/or may provide an exemplary surface in place of the goal. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary sensors may be used to measurean exemplary force exerted on the exemplary pad and/or on the differentjoints of the robot to determine how much force and the angles andduration of the force that can be applied by a given player. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, conventionally, the only way to measureplayer strength is by lifting various amounts of weight, but in thisinvention the robot can be able to provide custom measurements for eachplayer and the measurements can be conducted, according to an exemplaryembodiment, at different heights and angles, and can provide a completebody measure, instead of just parts as is done in weight lifting for anexample leg press, and/or a bench press, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary robot can propel anexemplary ball, such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary Americanfootball (e.g., oblong spheroid) with an exemplary spin by mounting adevice on the robot, that can throw the football, i.e., creating a spinand/or spiral on the ball before it is released just as the combinationof a human quarterback's arm, wrist, hand and fingers place aspin/spiral on a ball as it is thrown, enabling simulation of variousthrowing, allowing receivers to practice unaided by a human quarterback.Similarly, the robot may fill other roles allowing a human to practiceagainst the robot, for a longer time period than a human player might beable to play, or even when an opposing human opponent is unavailable.The amount and angle of spin could be varied, programmable, made random,etc., to simulate human throwing and/or catching. Similarly, othersports' opponents may also be so simulated, including, e.g., but notlimited to, a basketball shooting machine, etc., allowing a defender totry to intercept a pass, or shot, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the robot can also be used with,e.g., but not limited to, a hockey stick to hit and/or block, etc., ahockey puck, field hockey ball, tennis ball, etc. with programming anaddition of couplers to electromechanically grasp the stick, racquet,etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, in various baseball embodiments,various capabilities may be provided for the exemplary robot and/or therobot's exemplary strike board (i.e., the board 1500, 1600, 1610, withexemplary sensors and/or indicators, as outlined above, for anexemplary, but nonlimiting basketball backboard embodiment of thestrikeboard, and can in the baseball embodiment display, and/or simulatean exemplary catcher's mitt) and may detect and/or sense and/orindicate, and/or evaluate a pitcher's ability to throw an exemplary typeof pitch such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary pitch such as,e.g., a curve, a slider, a fastball to an exemplary specific targetand/or to measure and/or store, and/or analyze, and/or display, theperformance. According to an exemplary embodiment, the exemplarytrajectory and/or speed of the exemplary baseball can be mapped and/orcaptured in three dimensions for further analysis using exemplary 2Dand/or 3D, etc. scanners (such as those used in an exemplary MicrosoftKinect, and/or as described elsewhere, herein) and/or by using exemplaryscanners that can detect an exemplary device and/or sensor, and/orcomponent, that can be placed in the exemplary ball, according to anexemplary embodiment. According to an exemplary embodiment, similar toradar, but while providing a continuous image, the scanner sensingdevices and/or output display indicators, may be provided. According toan exemplary embodiment, an exemplary similar analysis may be performedof the exemplary ball's movements, such as, e.g., but not limited to,speed and/or trajectory, etc., could also be used to e.g., test anexemplary batter's ability at hitting different pitches, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary illustration of an exemplary improvedhomeplate having exemplary illumination features. Specifically, in anexemplary embodiment, FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary illustration 1900 ofan exemplary improved homeplate 1902, having exemplary illuminationfeatures, which may include vertical lines 1904, and/or horizontal lines1906, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to an exemplaryembodiment, an exemplary strike zone illuminator 1900 may be used toillustrate to an audience of an exemplary baseball game, where a strikezone may be. The array of lasers may project vertically to show theplate 1902 location of the batter's box (represented by the volume ofthe exemplary crosshatched pentagonal cylinder). The exemplaryhorizontal laser lines 1906 may be drawn with an exemplary horizontallaser batter's box. According to an exemplary embodiment, a strike zoneand/or personified sporting goal can be displayed via an additionaldisplay and/or an exemplary augmented reality for users with asmartphone in an example stadium. FIG. 20 depicts an exemplaryillustration of an exemplary tunnel three-dimensional (3D) scannerpitching trainer system, according to an exemplary embodiment.Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 20 depicts an exemplaryillustration 2000 of an exemplary tunnel 2002, which may be in anexemplary embodiment, a three-dimensional (3D) scanner pitching trainersystem, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to an exemplaryembodiment, tunnel 2002 may include an optional partial back wall 2004,at least two (2) side walls 2006, a roof, or top ceiling 2008, each wallwith respective groups of exemplary arrays of sensors 2014, 2016, 2018as shown, at least the wall's interiors. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the exemplary sensors 2014-2018 may be used to sense when anobject moves through the tunnel 2002, such as, e.g., but not limited to,when an exemplary baseball 2026, which may be thrown through horizontalsensing areas 2020, and/or vertical sensing areas 2024, which mayinclude visual sensors identifying the ball 2026 moving through thetunnel 2002, or may be radio frequency or other electronic sensor, whichmay sense movement of the ball 2026 through the tunnel 2002, using somesensing such as a color of the ball, or an embedded transmitter.According to an exemplary embodiment, the ball 2026 may be through thetunnel 2002 to an exemplary catcher's glove 2012 coupled to an exemplaryrobot 2010, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to anexemplary embodiment, the exemplary tunnel scanner may capture andanalyze the motion of the exemplary ball (e.g., baseball, etc.) as itmoves through the tunnel 2002, when thrown or otherwise propelled. Anexemplary embodiment may capture, store, analyze and process such as,e.g., but not limited to, mapping a trajectory in three dimensions ofthe movement of the ball, and may measure speed/velocity, path, curving,vertical and/or horizontal displacement, etc. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the tunnel may be used with a catcher, or may be used withan exemplary robotic catcher stand-in. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the tunnel 2002 may be staffed by at least one person, whomay evaluate a pitcher by analyzing the sensor output, when reviewing anexemplary baseball player. According to an exemplary embodiment, thecoordinates of the movement of the ball 2026 may be mapped and may bedisplayed (or a printout may be generated) of the exemplary motionanalysis of the ball trajectory and velocity. According to an exemplaryembodiment, displayed data can be displayed via an additional displayand/or an exemplary augmented reality, or holographic lens, for userswith a smartphone, and/or augmented vision device, in an examplestadium.

According to an exemplary embodiment, various exemplary aspects may usethe exemplary trainer system's exemplary scanning capability to measurethe athletes' movements including, e.g., but not limited to, exemplaryathlete velocity and/or athlete acceleration such that the informationcan be applied to the robot's movements. According to an exemplaryembodiment, in other words, if the exemplary athlete typically jumps ata certain acceleration then an exemplary basket can be programmed toreplicate the inverse of that movement for purposes of practice or asthe athlete moves on the floor, at an exemplary certain velocity, thenthe basket can move at that velocity as well, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, being able to measure an exemplaryplayer's range of exemplary acceleration and/or speed/velocity can allowthe robot to more accurately replicate the movements for practice andcan provide useful information for the athlete and the coach.

According to an exemplary embodiment, example useful information couldinclude: “how high does the athlete typically jump and how fast can heor she stop?”

Another aspect, according to an exemplary embodiment, can be thedifferent reference points for the measurement(s). According to anexemplary embodiment, a different reference point could be, e.g., butnot limited to, a head, a ball, a hand(s), etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary training system cancollect this exemplary movement data as the target person/user can movein three dimensions.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the scanner can measure how fastthe player can move the ball, puck, etc. when pitching, throwing,hitting, striking, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, thescanner can determine, “How fast can the player dribble the ball, andhow much force did he exert/transfer into the ball?” “How high does theball bounce as the player dribbles?” Gathering this data may beinteresting to the player, and this data may be used to determine thedifferent skills or qualities of different players. According to anexemplary embodiment, the information may be collected, analyzed andrepackaged. The analyzed information, according to an exemplaryembodiment, may be productized and delivered to the player and may serveto provide a new dimension to athletic analysis of coordination, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the robot can also be used in adefensive way where the player has to dribble around the robot, as ifthe robot is moving as a defensive player in a repeating motion.

According to an exemplary embodiment, further features may be providedrelating to basketball. According to an exemplary embodiment, onefeature can provide the ability to vary the size of the target, goal orhoop for purposes of practicing, to help the athlete feel more of asense of accomplishment, and to increase the difficulty of a task. Forexample, an adjustable radius hoop, or an adjustable width, or lengthgoal, can be provided.

According to an exemplary embodiment, one can capture the essence ofwhat motivates a kid to keep wanting to put a ball in the basket? Whocares? The exemplary embodiment of the invention can be later thanplanned, but can conclude that the player(s) is/are motivated by thefeeling of satisfaction that a player gets when the ball goes throughthe hoop. According to an exemplary embodiment, if a player can makemore baskets the player can want to practice more, and if the hoop islarger, can be easier to hit, and then the player can feel moreaccomplished in their abilities and the player can have more of a desireto practice. According to an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary featureof “And to the same degree the hoop, target or goal can be made smallerto further test and refine one's abilities.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an option to change the targetsize when an athlete may begin with the user using the robotic trainerbeing able to increase the size of the basket or target as the player(s)get familiar with this new type of moving target. According to anexemplary embodiment, hockey players can practice for a hockey goal,soccer, lacrosse, etc., can be adjusted to be made smaller forpracticing too.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary diagram 100 illustrating an exemplarycomputer/communications device hardware architecture as may be used invarious components of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary diagram 100 illustrating an exemplarycomputer/communications device hardware architecture as may be used invarious components to programmatically control and/or program and/or usethe robot 102-driven athletic trainer system 100 of exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary view100 of an exemplary computer system 124, 126, 128, or 130 as may be usedin implementing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1depicts an exemplary embodiment of a computer system that may be used incomputing devices such as, e.g., but not limited to, user devices124-130, etc. and/or web server 109 and/or application server 111,social network computing device(s) of a social network, which may in anexemplary embodiment reside in a cloud- and/or network-based device 132,user devices 124-130, network components 134, 136, etc. according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 depicts anexemplary embodiment of a computer system that may be used as clientdevice 124-130, or a server device (not shown), etc. The presentinvention (or any part(s) or function(s) thereof) may be implementedusing hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof and may beimplemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems.In fact, in one exemplary embodiment, the invention may be directedtoward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out thefunctionality described herein. An example of a computer system 100 isshown in FIG. 1, depicting an exemplary embodiment of a block diagram ofan exemplary computer system useful for implementing the presentinvention. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an example computer 124-130,which in an exemplary embodiment may be, e.g., (but not limited to) apersonal computer (PC) system running an operating system such as, e.g.,(but not limited to) WINDOWS MOBILE™ for POCKET PC, or MICROSOFT®WINDOWS® NT/98/2000/XP/CE/7/8, etc. available from MICROSOFT®Corporation of Redmond, Wash., U.S.A., SOLARIS® from SUN® Microsystemsof Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.A, OS/2 from IBM® Corporation of Armonk,N.Y., U.S.A, Mac/OS, OS/X, iOS from APPLE® Corporation of Cupertino,Calif., U.S.A, etc, or any of various versions of UNIX® (a trademark ofthe Open Group of San Francisco, Calif., USA) including, e.g., LINUX®,HPUX®, IBM AIX®, and SCO/UNIX®, etc. However, the invention may not belimited to these platforms. Instead, the invention may be implemented onany appropriate computer system running any appropriate operatingsystem. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention may beimplemented on a computer system operating as discussed herein. Anexemplary computer system, computer 100 is shown in FIG. 1. Othercomponents of the invention, such as, e.g., (but not limited to) acomputing device, a communications device, a telephone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a handheld PC, clientworkstations, thin clients, thick clients, proxy servers, networkcommunication servers, remote access devices, client computers, servercomputers, routers, web servers, data, media, audio, video, telephony orstreaming technology servers, a tablet, a phone, a mobile phone, acellular phone, a communications device, an iPod, an iPhone, asmartphone, an iPad, a tablet based device, a smart phone, an ANDROID OSdevice, an iOS device, a Symbian based device, a Windows 8, 10, n,device, etc., may also be implemented using a computer such as thatshown in FIG. 1.

The computer system 124-130 may include one or more processors, such as,e.g., but not limited to, microprocessor(s) (not shown, but internal to123, 126, 128, and 130). The processor(s) (and/or controller, fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), microcontroller, system on a chip (SOC), etc.) may be connectedand/or coupled to a communication infrastructure (e.g., but not limitedto, a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network, etc.), not shown,but part of 124-130. Various exemplary software embodiments may bedescribed in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading thisdescription, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevantart(s) how to implement the invention using other computer systemsand/or architectures.

Computer system 124-130 may include a display interface 502 that mayforward, e.g., but not limited to, graphics, text, and other data, etc.,from the communication infrastructure (or from a frame buffer, etc., notshown) for display on the display unit 138.

The computer system 124-130 may also include, e.g., but may not belimited to, a main memory (not shown, but within 124-130, in anexemplary embodiment), random access memory (RAM), and a secondarymemory (not shown, but may also be couplable to 124-130, etc. Thesecondary memory may include, for example, (but not limited to) a harddisk drive (HDD), and/or a removable storage drive (not shown, butrepresenting, e.g., but not limited to, a floppy diskette drive, amagnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a compact disk drive CD-ROM,etc.) The removable storage drive may, e.g., but not limited to, readfrom and/or write to a removable storage unit (not shown, but capable ofbeing placed in, or coupled to 124-130, in a well-known manner.Removable storage unit, also called a program storage device or acomputer program product, may represent, e.g., but not limited to, afloppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, compact disk (CD), digitalversatile disc (DVD), high definition optical media, e.g., BLU-RAY, etc.which may be read from and written to by removable storage drive. As canbe appreciated, the removable storage unit may include a computer usablestorage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

In alternative exemplary embodiments, secondary memory may include othersimilar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions tobe loaded into computer system 124-130. Such devices may include, forexample, a removable storage unit 522 and an interface 520. Examples ofsuch may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as,e.g., but not limited to, those found in video game devices), aremovable memory chip (such as, e.g., but not limited to, an erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory(PROM) and associated socket, universal serial bus device (USB), flashmemory, solid state memory device (SSD), and other removable storageunits and/or interfaces, which may allow software and data to betransferred from the removable storage unit to computer system 124-130.

Computer 124-130 may also include an input device (e.g., touch basedscreen of display 138 and/or stylus or pen of 128 such as, e.g., (butnot limited to) a mouse or other pointing device such as a digitizer,and a keyboard or other data entry device (none of which are labeled).

Computer 124-130 may also include output devices, such as, e.g., (butnot limited to) display 138, and display interface (not labeled).Computer 124-130 may include input/output (I/O) devices such as, e.g.,(but not limited to) communications interface, cable and/orcommunications path (not labeled), etc. These devices may include, e.g.,but not limited to, a network interface card, and/or modems and/or otherinterface coupling devices (not labeled). The communications interfacemay allow software and data to be transferred between computer system124-130 and external devices. Examples of communications interface124-130 may include, e.g., but may not be limited to, a modem, a networkinterface (such as, e.g., an Ethernet card), a communications port, aPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot,PC Card, SDRAM, universal serial bus (USB), solid state device (SSD),and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communicationsinterface may be in the form of signals which may be electronic,electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received bycommunications interface, when not transient, or when not transitory.These signals may be provided to communications interface via, e.g., butnot limited to, a communications path such as, e.g., but not limited to,a channel and/or communications link 140. This channel may carrysignals, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, propagatedsignals, and may be implemented using, e.g., but not limited to, wire orcable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radiofrequency (RF) link 140 and other communications channels, etc. Externalinput/output devices can be coupled including, e.g., but not limited to,a touchscreen, a pen based and/or stylus based input system, a flatpanel display, a high definition (HD), a 4K, 8K, 16K, nK, etc. display,a holographic display, an augmented reality (AR) display (integrating a3D image into a camera or other sensed environment, a hololens augmentedenvironment, a mixed reality, augmented reality, Magic Leap, a virtualreality (VR) and/or other enhanced reality environment display such as,e.g., but not limited to, a heads up display (HUD), etc.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerreadable medium” may be used to generally refer to media such as, e.g.,but not limited to removable storage drive, a hard disk installed inhard disk drive, a removable and/or nonremovable medium, and/ornontransitory signals, etc. These computer program products may providesoftware to computer system 124-130. The invention may be directed tosuch computer program products.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

In the following description and claims, the terms “coupled” and“connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should beunderstood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other.Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct or indirect physical orelectrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or moreelements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However,“coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in directcontact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with eachother.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“calculating,” “determining,” or the like, refer to the action and/orprocesses of a computer or computing system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented asphysical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system'sregisters and/or memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

In a similar manner, the term “processor” may refer to any device orportion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/ormemory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data thatmay be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computing platform” maycomprise one or more processors.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses forperforming the operations herein. An apparatus may be speciallyconstructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by aprogram stored in the device.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in one or a combinationof hardware, firmware, and software. Embodiments of the invention mayalso be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium,which may be read and executed by a computing platform to perform theoperations described herein. A machine-readable medium may include anymechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable bya machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium mayinclude read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magneticdisk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices;electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals(e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), andothers.

Computer programs (also called computer control logic), may includeobject oriented computer programs, and may be stored in main memoryand/or the secondary memory and/or removable storage units, also calledcomputer program products. Such computer programs, when executed, mayenable the computer system to perform the features of the presentinvention as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs,when executed, may enable the processor to provide a method to resolveconflicts during data synchronization according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programsmay represent controllers of the computer system 124-130.

In another exemplary embodiment, the invention may be directed to acomputer program product comprising a computer readable medium havingcontrol logic (computer software) stored therein. The control logic,when executed by the processor, may cause the processor to perform thefunctions of the invention as described herein. In another exemplaryembodiment where the invention may be implemented using software, thesoftware may be stored in a computer program product and loaded intocomputer system using, e.g., but not limited to, removable storagedrive, hard drive or communications interface, etc. The control logic(software), when executed by the processor 504, may cause the processorto perform the functions of the invention as described herein. Thecomputer software may run as a standalone software application programrunning atop an operating system, or may be integrated into theoperating system.

In yet another embodiment, the invention may be implemented primarily inhardware using, for example, but not limited to, hardware componentssuch as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or morestate machines, etc. Implementation of the hardware state machine so asto perform the functions described herein can be apparent to personsskilled in the relevant art(s).

In another exemplary embodiment, the invention may be implementedprimarily in firmware.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the invention may be implementedusing a combination of any of, e.g., but not limited to, hardware,firmware, and software, etc.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention may also be implemented asinstructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read andexecuted by a computing platform to perform the operations describedherein. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storingor transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read onlymemory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media;optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical,acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves,infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others.

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention makes reference towired, or wireless networks. Wired networks include any of a widevariety of well-known means for coupling voice and data communicationsdevices together. A brief discussion of various exemplary wirelessnetwork technologies that may be used to implement the embodiments ofthe present invention now are discussed. The examples are non-limited.Exemplary wireless network types may include, e.g., but not limited to,code division multiple access (CDMA), spread spectrum wireless,orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), 1G, 2G, 3G wireless,Bluetooth, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), shared wireless accessprotocol (SWAP), “wireless fidelity” (Wi-Fi), WIMAX, and other IEEEstandard 802.11compliant wireless local area network (LAN),802.16-compliant wide area network (WAN), and ultrawideband (UWB), etc.

Bluetooth is an emerging wireless technology promising to unify severalwireless technologies for use in low power radio frequency (RF)networks.

IrDA is a standard method for devices to communicate using infraredlight pulses, as promulgated by the Infrared Data Association from whichthe standard gets its name. Since IrDA devices use infrared light, theymay depend on being in line of sight with each other.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may make reference toWLANs. Examples of a WLAN may include a shared wireless access protocol(SWAP) developed by Home radio frequency (HomeRF), and wireless fidelity(Wi-Fi), a derivative of IEEE 802.11, advocated by the wireless ethernetcompatibility alliance (WECA). The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standardrefers to various technologies that adhere to one or more of variouswireless LAN standards. An IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless LAN may complywith any of one or more of the various IEEE 802.11 wireless LANstandards including, e.g., but not limited to, wireless LANs compliantwith IEEE std. 802.11a, b, d or g, n, X, such as, e.g., but not limitedto, IEEE std. 802.11a, b, d and g, n (including, e.g., but not limitedto IEEE 802.11g-2003, etc.), etc.

Exemplary Personified Sporting Goal Exemplary Embodiments

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D, et seq., depict various exemplaryillustrations of an exemplary personified sporting goal, according to anexemplary embodiment. FIG. 21A illustrates a drawing 2100 of anexemplary personified basketball backboard including illustrativepersonified attributes, including, e.g., but not limited to, exemplaryeyes, cheeks, nose, eye brows, ears, hair, tongue, etc., according toone exemplary embodiment. In one exemplary embodiment a cartoon bubblecan be used to display, e.g., but not limited to, example text, emoji,emoticons, text, video, and/or audio, etc.

FIG. 22 depicts an exemplary illustration 2200 depicting an exemplarypersonified sporting goal having various exemplary character attributes(including, e.g., but not limited to, exemplary arms 2202 and legs 2204appendages, exemplary displayed facial features (e.g., eyes 2206,eyebrows 2208, mouth 2210), exemplary cowboy hat 2212, boots 2214, hands2216, and a goal 2218 (basketball backboard, hoop and net), and speechbubble 2220), and transparent protective cover 2222, according to anexemplary embodiment. An exemplary embodiment of a sport goal, ormodification or adjustment of the goal, net and/or scoreboard such as,e.g., but not limited to, a basketball backboard, or a soccer net, andframe, or a baseball scoreboard, etc. so that the sport goal can haveand display human features and the sport goal can move, communicate,and/or exhibit human emotions that can be conveyed to the spectators,referee, and/or players, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment. Thepersonified sport goal can exhibit human attributes such as, e.g., butnot limited to, movement, expression and/or emotion, etc., throughvarious actions and/or mediums in order to portray human emotion and/orcommunication, according to an exemplary embodiment. An example roboticarm, according to an exemplary embodiment, can comprise part of and/orbe attached to, the personified sport goal to provide movement,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Various communication components can be included to implement an examplesports goal device, including, e.g., but not limited to, wireless and/orwired communications, routers, bridges, gateways, switches, cabling,network interface cards, etc.

Various conventional automated toys exist, including communicationssubsystems as discussed and described at length in WO 01/69830,PCT/IL01/00248, the contents of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. However, no personified sports goals havebeen disclosed previously. According to an exemplary embodiment,Applicant combines a useful, novel, and nonobvious combination of asports goal with exemplary personified attributes, such as, e.g., butnot limited to, appendages, facial features, emotional expressions,sounds, audio, video and/or textual insertions, etc. According to apreferred embodiment, the personified sporting goal can be coupled, insome embodiments, to an optional robot 102 (shown in FIG. 22). Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, users, such as, e.g., but not limited to, anaudience of a sports game, an athletic participant, and/or a referee,umpire, etc., can interact with the personified sports goal device. Via,e.g., speech bubble 2220, and/or via speakers, and/or on a scrollingtext banner, via audio speakers, and/or video displays (such as, e.g., aflat panel liquid crystal display (LCD), and/or with an exemplary lightemitting diode (LED) backlight, pixels, via sound system, etc. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, a user interface can be used by an exampleback office human user (similar to the Wizard of Oz), or an exemplaryprogrammed user, and/or an artificial intelligence (AI) software agentuser, which can include, in one exemplary embodiment, a neural network,a software decision support system, etc., any of which can control, andor manipulate the various components, such as, e.g., but not limited to,attributes shown in FIG. 22, etc., the exemplary emotions, gestures,interactions, etc. of the personified sports goal, as it interacts withother users.

According to one exemplary embodiment one or more flat panel or otherdisplays can be used to provide, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplaryfacial feature, eyes, smile, tongue, mouth, ears, etc. According to oneexemplary embodiment, robotic and/or animatronic appendages such as,e.g., but not limited to, ears, arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, toes,tail, character features, animal features, object features, etc., can beprovided, according to one exemplary embodiment.

An exemplar embodiment of the hardware and software, electrical and/ormechanical components of an example, wired or wirelessly coupled systemof various components including a sporting goal, output displayfeatures, wireless communication facilities to a user interface for usercomputer device and/or programmed, and/or software based artificialintelligence (AI) engine and/or neural network system for controllingthe personified sporting goal with its enhanced features for providingemotion, gestures, communication of various entertaining content, etc.via electronic, mechanical and electro-mechanical animatronic and/orrobotic appendages and motor/actuator/gear/pneumatics and/orhydraulically controlled subsystems and assemblies of various exemplaryembodiments, including controlling and moving appendages, facialfeatures, emotions, attitude, expressions, feelings, etc. via humanlikepersonified movement and/or gestures by the mechanical and electroniccomponents. Appendages coupled to motors and actuators can move likehuman or animal physical movements, can include various example sensors,may include any of various sensors such as, e.g., but not limited to,capacitive, touch sensing, sound capture, microphone, voice recognition,proximity, touch, ultrasonic, range finders, accelerometers, gyroscopic,location based, RFID, image sensing, cameras, etc., as well as outputdevices such as displays, appendages, motors, wheels, conveyors,ejectors, etc. Certain embodiments can simulate certain humanactivities, such as, e.g., but not limited to, spitting, throwing,ejecting, rejecting a ball, etc.

An example personified sport goal, according to an exemplary embodiment,can be controlled by a human and/or can be operated through programmedand/or artificial intelligence and/or can serve as the consciousembodiment for each team, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a mascotand/or a personality of a team, etc.

FIG. 26 depicts a diagram 2600 illustrating an example personifiedsports goal device user interface including various user interfaceselectable routines, and/or character movements, and/or interactions,etc. The illustrated examples are not intended to be exhaustive, butrather suggest example user friendly, simple, programmable, appendageanimatronic and/or robotic appendage and sporting goal controller.

Another example personified sport goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment, can have, e.g., but not limited to, physical human featuressuch as, e.g., but not limited to, a face with a mouth, teeth, lipsand/or tongue, eyes and/or pupils, ears, hair, nose, eyebrows, etc. Theexample personified sport goal, according to an exemplary embodiment canhave a body and appendages such as, e.g., but not limited to, arms,hands, fingers, and/or legs, etc., that are, according to an exemplaryembodiment, capable of controlled or uncontrolled movement.

Exemplary embodiment of an example personified sport goal, includingexemplary animatronic and/or robotic, and/or moveable personifiedattributes of an example sports goal device, such as, an examplebasketball backboard/hoop and net with robotic and/or animatronicappendages, see FIG. 22, and/or a soccer goal coupled to a personifiedcharacter or object (such as, e.g., a Mr. Potato head, face, portion offace, etc.), see FIG. 24, below.

In yet another example of a personified sport goal, according to anexemplary embodiment, the sport goal can express ideas and/or expressionvia audio and/or written words, and/or by conveying what the examplepersonified sport goal is thinking via example thought balloons, asemployed in comics, and/or in a banner type or other form of text and/orgraphic display with e.g., but not limited to, static, scrolling, and/ormoving words, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.

Another example personified sport goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment, can be portrayed by various means such as, according to anexemplary embodiment, a high definition (HD)/ultra-high definition(UHD)/4K/8K/16K/32K/nK, augmented reality (Argon, ArUco, JavaCV, GRATF,Goblin XNA, mixare, PTAM, DroidAR, GeoAR, BeyondAR, Mangan, Vrui, ARma,ARTooKit, Kudan AR, Layar SDK, Catchoom CraftAR SDK, Vuforia AugmentedReality SDK, Wikitude SDK, Gamar, Augment, Blippbuilder, buildAR,Catchoom CraftAR, Hoppala Augmentation, Layar Creator, TARTT, WebcamSocial Shopper, WakingApp, AR Circuits, SkyView, Anatomy 4D, immersivecomputer generated environments, Aurasma, Blippar, iGreet, Layar, NokiaCity Lens, Wikitude, XARMEX, Zappar), holographic lens, hololens,virtual reality (such as, e.g., but not limited to, Samsung Gear VR, HTCVive, VivePort, Oculus Rift, etc.), etc. display screen, animation,and/or in combination with various mechanical devices such as, e.g., butnot limited to, motors, actuators, pneumatic, gear and/or hydrauliclifts, limbs, appendages, etc.), according to an exemplary embodiment.Further, aspects can incorporate and/or be incorporated in gamingdevices, such as the EyeToy, PlayStation Eye, Kinect, Nintendo 3DS,PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita and some mobile devices, usecameras to augment computer graphics onto live footage, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary enhanced game environments that can becoupled with Applicant's claimed invention include e.g., but not limitedto, Pokemon Go, AR Games, A.R. Warriors, Bravely Default, Cool Stacks,Cybergeneration, Dead Space, E.X. Troopers, Project DIVA F, Vocaloid,Hydrophobia, Ingress, LyteSHot, Raving Rabbids, Spectrek, Tuttuki Bako,Zombies Run, etc. The majority of AR software uses special cards whichare read by the device to pinpoint where the graphics can form,according to an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments canincorporate any of various mixed reality environments including, e.g.,hybrid reality, virtual worlds, mixed physical and/or virtual worlds,any of various strata of MR along a virtuality continuum, an/ormediality continuum, and/or reality-virtuality continuum from realenvironment (RE), to augmented reality (AR), to augmented virtuality(AV), to virtual environment (VE), etc. Thus, certain aspects, e.g.,speech bubbles, etc., can be provided by any of various modalitiesacross the reality-virtuality continuum, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Exemplary environments can include, e.g., but not be limitedto, cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE), head-up display (HUD),head-mounted display (HMD), Tablet PC, computer display and/ortouchscreen, Personal Digital Assistant, Mobile phones and/orsmartphones, etc., handheld and/or mobile, and/or wearable PC, immersivewearables, augmented reality, augmented virtuality, blended space,lifelike experience, mediated reality, mixed reality games, simulatedreality, Supranet, Telexistence, Viractualism, Virtual reality, and/orVisuo-haptic mixed reality, etc.

Various exemplary electronic, mechanical, telecommunications, andcomputer components are depicted in drawing 2700, are illustrated inFIG. 27.

Yet another example personified sport goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment, can be visible from, e.g., one, both of two, or four ormore, and/or all sides, so that all spectators, as well as players,officiating crews/referees/umpires, audience, and/or television viewingaudience, can observe the character and/or the character's emotions,gestures, actions, interaction, communication, and/or read or observeits written, spoken (e.g., by voice, audio, and/or synthetic voicegeneration, etc.) and/or displayed communication via exemplary cartoonbubble, cloud, and/or other banner and/or scrolling text tape stream,etc. A personality of the character can be developed and familiaremotions/interactions can be created to the character(s)

FIG. 23 depicts in illustration 2300, various example emotional statesand faces representative of various emotional states, and example facialgestures that could be used in an exemplary personified sporting goal toprovide an example interaction, according to one exemplary, butnonlimiting embodiment.

FIG. 24 depicts another example personified sport goal, in this case anexample large depiction of a body, or portion of a body such as, a face,eyes, a large potato head, etc. coupled to an exemplary soccer or hockeygoal, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to one exemplaryembodiment, the personified sporting goal can be applied to any and allcurrent and/or future sports that can utilize a goal, scoreboard and/ornet where a personified sport goal character(s) can appear, such as,e.g., but not limited to, in baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball,golf, FRISBEE flying disc golf, rugby, football, golf, lacrosse, hockey,track and field, QUIDDITCH, field hockey, winter sport, summer sport,shooting sport, tennis, and/or archery, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a character, or portion of acharacter, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a Mr. Potato Head, on anexemplary goal, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a soccer goal, can beassociated with and/or coupled to the goal, but may not necessarily be aphysical part of the goal since the exemplary character can be placed onit, adjacent to it, or in close proximity to it. In an exemplaryembodiment, the example character can include a remotely controlledcharacter, which can be on or adjacent to the sporting field, to expressemotions and/or to entertain the crowd. Conventional mascots are justhumans in costumes, with few ways to communicate, generally only by handgestures, or with the help of cheerleaders, and the mascots areconventionally so small, that they are hard to see. An exemplaryembodiment, on the other hand, can provide gigantic, exaggerated facialcharacters for displaying emotion on, e.g., a jumbotron and/or otherlarge display and/or other output device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary, illustrativeapparatus can incorporate, e.g., a face, or other body portion, and/orbody into an exemplary sporting goal, backboard, and/or goal, with forexample, but not limited to, very large, and/or exaggerated, features,allowing example emotions to be visible enough for the audience to seeand can enable an audience to understand a displayed emotion and/orinteraction, from a distance, in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 25 depicts in illustration 2500, an example flat screen 2222 canadd, e.g., but not limited to, a basket, hockey goal 910, or other goalto flat display screen image 2502 of Samsung flat panel 2222 digitalsignage.

FIG. 26 depicts an exemplary user interface for controlling an exemplarypersonified sporting goal including various exemplary graphical userinterface elements, according to an exemplary embodiment. Variousexemplary user selectable movement icons and/or controller selectablefunctions as can be used along with an exemplary joy stick, mouse, 2Dand/or 3D controller device, etc.

FIG. 27 depicts an exemplary personified sports goal apparatus device,audio/video output interfaces/devices, communications components (wiredand/or wireless, etc.), an exemplary personified sporting goal, acomputer controller device, including an exemplary user interface and/oran exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) elements, speakers and/ormicrophone interfaces, and/or motors, and/or actuator interfaces and/ordevices, and/or sensors, and/or couplers, cables, and/or communicationfacilities/couplings/etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 28 depicts a diagram 2800 illustrating various exemplaryembodiments of various exemplary personified sporting goals 2810, 2820,2830, and 2840, according to an exemplary embodiment. Diagram 2800depicts an exemplary two-sided personified sports goal 2810 for abasketball game and/or optional speech box(es), according to anexemplary embodiment. Diagram 2800 depicts an exemplary two-sidedpersonified sports goal 2820 for a soccer game and/or optional speechbox(es), according to an exemplary embodiment. Diagram 2800 also depictsan exemplary personified sports goal 2830 for an example target and/orarchery and/or dartboard, etc. game and/or optional speech box(es),according to an exemplary embodiment. Diagram 2800 also depicts anexemplary personified sports goal 2840 for an example one- or two-sidedbasketball game illustrating an example set of facial features and/oroptional speech box(es), according to an exemplary embodiment.

An example embodiment of the personified basketball backboard 2810 caninclude, according to an exemplary embodiment, an example double-sidedoutput display to simulate, e.g., but not limited to, two display outputscreens such as, e.g., but not limited to, a liquid crystal display(LCD), a light emitting display (LED), and/or other flat panel, pictureelement (pixel), backlit, or nonbacklit, and/or other display screen(and/or a partially transparent, partially opaque screen allowingviewing from either the front and/or back side of the backboard), etc.,with one side for viewing by the audience in front of the backboard andone side for viewing by the audience behind the backboard, and/or aholographic display and/or augmented reality display enabling projectionof the character, and/or portions of a character on the backboard (e.g.,nose 2808, mouth 2210, etc., in an exemplary embodiment. In an exemplaryembodiment, the screen(s) 2802, 2804 can display exemplary personifiedattributes, such as, e.g., but not limited to, eye or eyes 2206,eyebrows (not labeled), nose 2808, and/or mouth 2210, and/or exemplaryspeech boxes 2220, which may face in any of multiple directions, and/ormay rotate or move for ease of viewing, in an exemplary embodiment. Thesporting goal can advantageously move in personified fashion usingrobotic appendages and/or supports 102, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

An example embodiment of the personified basketball backboard 2820 caninclude, according to an exemplary embodiment, a soccer, lacrosse,hockey goal, and/or field hockey, etc., which can include, e.g., but notlimited to, one or more output display(s) and/or display portions (suchas, e.g., but not limited to, round display elements for simulatingexample eyes, and/or an example rectangular display to simulate, e.g., amouth and/or lips, the example display(s) to simulate, e.g., but notlimited to, one, two, three, or more, display output screens such as,e.g., but not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a lightemitting display (LED), and/or other flat panel, picture element(pixel), backlit, or nonbacklit, and/or other display screen (and/or apartially transparent, partially opaque screen allowing viewing fromeither the front and/or back side of the backboard), etc., with anexample one side for viewing by the audience in front of the backboardand an example one side for viewing by the audience behind thebackboard, and/or a holographic display and/or augmented reality displayenabling projection of at least a portion of or a whole character,and/or portions of a character or face on an example portion, in anexemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the screen(s) 2802,2804 can display exemplary personified attributes, such as, e.g., butnot limited to, eye or eyes 2206, eyebrows (not shown or labeled), nose(not shown or labeled), and/or mouth 2210, etc., and/or exemplary speechboxes 2220, which may face in any of multiple directions, and/or mayrotate or move for ease of viewing, in an exemplary embodiment. Thesporting goal 908 can advantageously move in personified fashion usingrobotic appendages and/or supports 102, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

An example embodiment of the personified basketball backboard 2830 caninclude, according to an exemplary embodiment, a target for archery,darts, shooting, and/or biathlon, etc., which can include, e.g., but notlimited to, one or more output display(s) and/or display portions (suchas, e.g., but not limited to, round display elements for simulatingexample eyes 2206, and/or an example rectangular or circular display tosimulate, e.g., a mouth and/or lips, and/or targets and/or rings, and/orbulls eye, such as, shown in the example display(s) to simulate, e.g.,but not limited to, one, two, three, or more, display output screenssuch as, e.g., but not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), alight emitting display (LED), and/or other flat panel, picture element(pixel), backlit, or nonbacklit, and/or other display screen (and/or apartially transparent, partially opaque screen allowing viewing fromeither the front and/or back side of the backboard), etc., with anexample one side for viewing by the audience in front of the backboardand an example one side for viewing by the audience behind thebackboard, and/or a holographic display and/or augmented reality displayenabling projection of at least a portion of or a whole character,and/or portions of a character or face on an example portion, in anexemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the screen(s) 2802,2804 (not labeled), and/or eye displays 2206, and/or target display2806, and/or speech box display(s) 2220 can display exemplarypersonified attributes, such as, e.g., but not limited to, eye or eyes2206, eyebrows (not shown or labeled), nose (not shown or labeled),and/or mouth 2210, and/or exemplary speech boxes 2220, which may face inany of multiple directions, and/or may rotate or move for ease ofviewing, in an exemplary embodiment. The sporting goal 2806, target, canadvantageously move in personified fashion using robotic appendagesand/or supports 102, according to an exemplary embodiment.

An example embodiment of the personified basketball backboard 2840 caninclude, according to an exemplary embodiment, an example singlebasketball screen, basket and net, and/or backboard, etc., which caninclude, e.g., but not limited to, one or more output display(s) and/ordisplay portions (such as, e.g., but not limited to, round displayelements for simulating example eyes, and/or an example rectangulardisplay to simulate, e.g., a mouth and/or lips, the example display(s)to simulate, e.g., but not limited to, one, two, three, four, five,and/or more, display output screens such as, e.g., but not limited to, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting display (LED), and/orother flat panel, picture element (pixel), backlit, or nonbacklit,and/or other display screen (and/or a partially transparent, partiallyopaque screen allowing viewing from either the front and/or back side ofthe backboard), etc., with an example one side for viewing by theaudience in front of the backboard and an example one side for viewingby the audience behind the backboard, and/or a holographic displayand/or augmented reality display enabling projection of at least aportion of or a whole character, and/or portions of a character or faceon an example portion, in an exemplary embodiment. In an exemplaryembodiment, the screen(s) 2802, 2804, 2206, 2808, 2210, 2220 can displayexemplary personified attributes, such as, e.g., but not limited to, eyeor eyes 2206, eyebrows, nose, and/or mouth, etc. (not labeled), and/orexemplary speech boxes 2220, which may face in any of multipledirections, and/or may rotate or move for ease of viewing, in anexemplary embodiment. The sporting goal 2218 and/or backboard, and/orrim and/or net, can advantageously move in personified fashion usingrobotic appendages and/or supports 102, and/or may be configured torotate and/or telescope, and/or compress, upon a base 2010, and/or aboutany of various intermediate joints and/or motors, and/or actuatorsand/or in multiple degrees of freedom, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The exemplary drawings 2800 show various exemplary embodiments ofvarious optional and/or example speech and/or thought bubbles, and/orindications of exemplary audio output, or indications of speech and/ormusic, and/or audio, and/or thoughts, on each exemplary goal set, asmay, in an example embodiment include multiple, perpendicular to eachother speech bubbles for example multiple angle, full audience viewing,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 29 depicts an exemplary diagram 2900 illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a personified sporting field goal 2902, (with virtualand/or real personified enhancements) according to an exemplaryembodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, personified attributes such as,e.g., but not limited to, eyes 2602, eyebrows 2208, nose 2808, mouth2210, support and/or robotic base 102, as may allow exemplary movementand/or other personified attributes (e.g., nodding, shaking head), etc.,such as, after a missed field goal, etc. Certain aspects can be providedvia additional displays, such as, e.g., flat display screen(s), asdiscussed elsewhere herein, or as shown including exemplary speechbubbles 2220, and/or other other features as may be optionally providedwith displays, and/or via AR, MR, and/or VR through, e.g., but notlimited to, head mounted displays, head up display, hololens, MAGICLEAP, augmented reality, mixed reality, holographic lens, virtualreality glasses, enhanced reality glasses, GOOGLE Glass, a smartphoneoutfitted with camera for AR, etc., according to various exemplary butnonlimiting embodiments.

FIG. 30 depicts an exemplary swimming athletic training system includingan exemplary robotic arm 102 coupled to an exemplary tube and/orcylinder and/or compartment for analyzing a swimmer, and/or can becoupled via the robot to analyze drag, etc., according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary Embodiments of Additional Enhancements

Exemplary embodiments can include example modification of robotic armsso they can be used to pitch and/or hit baseballs and/or other ballsincluding, e.g., but not limited to, tennis balls, etc., and other ballsor projectiles used in sports, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example purposes of employing therobotic arm to function in a similar manner as how the combination of ahuman arm, wrist, hand and/or fingers are used in a game to throw abaseball towards a catcher and/or a hitter, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Thus a robotic pitcher can be used to pitch to a humancatcher in one embodiment. In one embodiment a robotic pitcher can beused to pitch to a robotic robot.

General Statement

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic arms which can beconstructed in a manner that can be very similar to a human arm with awrist that can rotate and the robots can have a device and/or component,like a hand and/or fingers that can grasp and/or manipulate an object,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Example #1—Robotic Pitcher

Exemplary embodiments can include example use of a robotic arm for thepurposes of pitching a ball such as a baseball to a batter whereby therobotic arm can use the arm to propel or throw the ball as well asemploying an additional device attached or part of the arm that can holdthe ball in order to place a spin on the ball at different speeds ofrotation and/or in different directions as the ball is released and/orthrown, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example the robotic arm can be used topitch a ball toward human batters and/or toward robotic batters,according to exemplary embodiments.

Differentiation of Robotic Pitcher

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic pitcher which canbe different than present pitching machines which use two stationaryspinning wheels to eject the ball toward a batter or an arm thatcatapults the ball toward the batter, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example device which can be differentbecause the movement of the robotic arm can mimic a human arm to givethe ball velocity and the ancillary spinning wheels can be able to adddifferent spins to the ball causing its path of travel to be deflecteddue to the changes in air pressure the spinning causes, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include example spinwhich can be adjusted to cause the ball to drop, curve and/or change upand/or with minimal spin the ball can slowly travel through the air likea knuckle ball, according to an exemplary embodiment. The pitcher canimplement randomness in variation of various aspects to create variationof pitches, and/or can provide consistency for other applications,according to embodiments. Sensors can be used, in exemplary embodiments.

Example #2—Robotic Batter or Hitter

Exemplary embodiments can include example use of a robotic arm connectedor coupled to a bat and/or racket with sensor(s) to hit a ball as in thegames of tennis, baseball, softball or cricket, etc., according to anexemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example a robotic arm which can swinga racket and/or bat to try and/or contact the ball so as to return theball or to put the ball in play, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example stationary robotic hitter(s),which could have two controllers, one for each team, according to anexemplary embodiment. Each team can activate their controller so thatcontrol of the stationary robot can be switched back and forth with theother team depending on which team is on the field and which is at bat,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example where there can be somestandard rules for both teams regarding exemplary hardware and/orsensor(s) that can be incorporated into and/or utilized in conjunctionwith the robot, in an example embodiment. Exemplary embodiments caninclude example sensor(s), as can be mounted on the robot and/or othersensor(s) can be stand alone, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Example #3—Modified Robotic Baseball Game

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic pitcher and/orrobotic hitter could replace the current human pitcher and/or hitter,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example human could still be requiredto control the pitching robot via an electronic computer controllerand/or a human could be required to control the hitting robot via anelectronic computer controller, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example human players could stillparticipate in the game and/or serve as a home plate catcher, fielder(s)and/or base runner(s), according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example robot(s), which can beprogrammed to avoid specific safe zones so that the robot and/or its batcan not enter a space that could be occupied by a catcher, runner and/orumpire and/or the umpire could control a master switch to keep any ofthe robot(s) from starting and/or moving unexpectedly, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example base runner could taketheir place next to the catcher and/or can start running to first baseonly once the ball has made contact with the bat, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include an example falsestart could cause a strike against the batting robot, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example strike zone could be depictedelectronically and/or sensor(s) could be employed to determine if theball actually entered the strike zone, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example ball(s), which could haveembedded sensor(s) to assist in the detection of their path of travel,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example sensor(s), which could beemployed such as, e.g., but not limited to, with a laser beam to ensurethat the home plate base runner does not start running before contactbetween the bat and ball occur, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include where an example bat can have a sensorto detect when the bat and the ball make contact, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example base runner(s) can still tryto steal a base and/or the robotic pitcher can still try to throw themout, if they get too far off the base, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic batter can stilltry to bunt the ball and the ball can be recovered by any of the playersexcept the pitching robot, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic pitcher, which canstill start to fake a pitch and/or throw the ball to a base too, so thebaseman can try and get a runner out, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic pitcher could have anumber that can be displayed on the pitcher and their team insignia(which can be displayed in one embodiment) can change as their teamtakes and/or leaves the field, according to an exemplary embodiment.Exemplary embodiments can include where the example robot can even weara team hat which can be placed on them when their team is on the field,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic pitcher and/or roboticbatter can be personified and/or display gestures and/or emotions and/orcan have other human features, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic batter can run, and/ortake practice swings, etc., as human batters do when they step into thebatters' box, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic pitcher, which canturn and/or spin around, and/or make other motions to buy time as thepitcher prepares to throw the next pitch to the batter and/or to abaseman to get a runner tagged out, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Benefits

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic baseball which candecrease or eliminate injuries to human pitchers' arms from repetitivethrowing and/or to pitchers from being hit by hit line drive baseballsand/or loose bats, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example ability of the robot to hitthe ball can have enough variables depending on the sensor(s) utilizedand/or other programming and/or mechanical variable(s) that an elementof the unknown can, or should be inherent with each pitch, according toan exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example spin on the ball can createvariables so that even though computers and/or robots can be used, theball can never travel as perfectly as expected each time, so the gamecan still have plenty of variables that can make the game random, andentertaining, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example use of robotic pitcher(s)and/or hitter(s) can dramatically speed up the tempo of the game and/orcan decrease and/or eliminate continuous delays associated with, e.g.,convention batter(s) stepping out of the box and/or adjusting theirgloves, VELCRO brand straps, hook and loop fasteners, or the like,and/or grip and/or the delays of the pitchers contemplating their nextpitch, according to an exemplary embodiment. It can cause the game toshift from one that is dominated with waiting for pitches and hits, to agame of hitting, fielding and base running which is in essence whyspectators attend the games, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example home plate umpire whichcannot have to make as many judgement calls and can be able to act in amore supervisory capacity, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Notes

Exemplary embodiments can include example current baseball league couldintroduce a rule that can provide a required time interval for thebatter to be in the box and/or a required time interval for the pitcherto pitch the ball, but that does not lead to the agony of spectatorssuch as conventionally experienced with game times having recentlyincreased from 2 hours to 3 hours, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example robotic baseball game couldintroduce significant technological advances into the game and/or canshift some of the technique and/or art of the game from the physicalskills of human players on the field to a mental competition betweenprogrammers and/or hardware specialists who could also be on the fieldcompeting against the other team with their respective robot and/orcontroller, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example public can be much morecomfortable with technology and how it can be employed now versus twentyyears ago so the public should not be as resistant to integratingrobotic players with human players in sports, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

According to another exemplary embodiment, exemplary robotic arms can beused in other sports, such as, e.g., but not limited in, in Americanfootball, soccer, etc., to e.g., but not limited to, celebrate atouchdown, a field goal, a soccer goal, etc. and/or to encourage crowdparticipation such as, e.g., but not limited to, similar to a cheerleader and/or public-address system, etc. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the exemplary robotic arms can be used, e.g., but notlimited to, to throw a ball, and/or other projectile, etc., according toan exemplary embodiment.

Additional Exemplary Embodiments

Exemplary embodiments can include example concept of using data from therobotic devices to establish player profile information which can beused in virtual games for new environments for competition, according toan exemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include an exampledealing with a new concept of using the performance data for thecreation of a virtual type of league of sporting games, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include exampleequipment to collect, store, accumulate, and analyze the data, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example use of the robot to provide anintermediate reference goal, see FIG. 13, for example, for a trajectorysuch as, e.g., but not limited to, in golf, and/or basketball, etc., soa player can aim for an intermediate target and/or can see the resultsrelative to where the ball went and the relationship of the ball as itpasses by or through the intermediate reference, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include example size ofthe reference target and its position can be changed and/or the exampletarget can contain, e.g., sensor(s) to indicate, capture, and/or recordexactly where the trajectory was relative to the intermediate goal,according to an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can includeexamples which can help athletes get a better fix on what works for themand the mix between arc and velocity, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robot that, e.g., asillustrated in one exemplary embodiment in FIG. 30, can pull a swimmerin an example circle, or laterally along a rail (not shown) besideand/or in a pool with a measuring device that can be attached to theswimmer so they can see how much drag, and/or propulsion they arecreating with each aspect of their stroke and/or the device can recordthe information and/or track the swimmer's progress, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example problem with trying toimprove one's swimming can be that a swimmer can't measure how changesaffect drag and/or increase propulsion, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Conventionally, absent this disclosed invention, there isnot a mechanical device that a swimmer can use to assist with thisphysical training, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 30 depictsexample apparatus 3000 including an example robot 102, coupled to anathletic training device 3002 enabling training and/or analysis ofswimmer activity.

Exemplary embodiments can include example detection of how is one kickbetter than another and/or one hand scoop better, according to anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include example that canaddress the shortcomings of conventional solutions wherein no one canquantify and/or display the effect in a short period of time and theswimmer can conventionally be left to apply what they have been told ina timed interval, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example solution using an examplerobot and/or a harness that can be coupled to a swimmer, and/or othercoupler, that can pull and/or drag a swimmer with a measuring devicethat can displays the swimmer's drag in, e.g., a very large examplecircle, and/or other shape, which can allow the swimmer to make changesand/or can instantly see the results and/or can do observe and/or makechanges continuously without stopping, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Exemplary embodiments can include an example where a swimmercan just glide and/or observe the resistance the swimmer may have withthe water, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example swimmer can be connected to,and/or coupled to, the robot via an example harness that can cover theswimmer's torso and/or can be coupled to a cable to a point on the backof the swimmer near the center of gravity, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example deflector can be used tochannel extra water to the inner side of swimmer in order to compensateand/or correct for the deflection caused by the rotational forces,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include example system, which can employ anexemplary breakaway safety and/or other device to release the cable inthe event of some unusual circumstance, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Exemplary embodiments can include, an example robotic arm 102 that canpitch a baseball, according to an exemplary embodiment, as discussedabove.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example robotic arm that can hit abaseball, according to an exemplary embodiment, as also discussed above.

Exemplary embodiments can include an example combination of an examplerobotic pitcher throwing a ball to an example robotic hitter to provideinfield and outfield practice and fielding performance data, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Example Basketball Dribbling Practice Robot

FIG. 31 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a basketball dribblingpractice robot according to an exemplary embodiment. According to anexample embodiment, from having played and coached basketball, one ofthe most important things that Applicant tells players is that when onedribbles the ball, one must always protect the ball from one's opponentto avoid a steal. It is common to lift one's guard arm when protectingthe ball or to use one's body to help protect the ball in thissituation. This skill can be practiced alone but it can be hard tocreate a game realistic situation of someone reaching to steal the ballfrom the opposing player if one is practicing by oneself. One couldattempt to find a person to help one practice this skill, but often itcan be difficult to find someone available to assist one. According toan example embodiment, an example robotic arm can be programmed to tryand reach for the basketball that one is dribbling, can help create thesame situation that could be done with another person, however in anautomated fashion using an electronic computer based robot. The examplerobotic arm can have one or more sensors, attached to the robot orrobotic arm, which can be used by the robotic arm to locate where theball is, and how far away from the robot and/or the player, that theball is. In an example embodiment, the robot arm can then reach out andtry to steal the ball from the person. In an example embodiment, theperson can try to protect the ball, such as, e.g., but not limited to,knocking the hand away or rotating their body. The robotic hand canreach out and try to steal the ball every couple seconds and/or can havea workout timer for how long a user can practice ball handling with themachine, according to an example embodiment. According to an exampleembodiment, the use of the robotic training system can help an athleticuser learn to protect the ball when dribbling, and can help the athleticuser being trained on improving ball handling and/or ball control. Inanother example embodiment, the robot can be modified to include one ormore sensors to help allow the robot to, e.g., dribble the ball relativeto at least a part of the robot, such as, e.g., but not limited to, anexample robotic hand, which can be coupled to an example robotic arm.

Example Basketball Dribbling Practice Robot

Example use of the terms “robotic arm” and/or “robot”, etc., can beconsidered generally interchangeably and the terms are intended to meanthe same thing in this disclosure. Use of the term “projectile” and“ball” are interchangeable as well, but can be thought to refer,collectively, to refer to the same example thing being acted upon by therobot, according to an example embodiment.

A. Combination catching and throwing robotic arm—according to an exampleembodiment, an example device can be capable of catching and/or thenthrowing a ball and/or a projectile, i.e., an example robotic pitchingmachine can be adapted to sense an incoming ball, can move to catch theball, and can act to pitch and/or otherwise act to electronicallymanipulate the ball. According to an example embodiment, an examplerobot can be configured to include an example arm, and/or othercomponents, which in one embodiment can include an example at least twocomponents, including, e.g., but not limited to, an example firstcomponent that can catch, an example second component that can throw,and an example third mechanism by which the ball or projectile can bemade to physically transition from the catching portion to the throwingportion, in one example embodiment.

Launching or throwing portion—According to an example embodiment, anexample Robot can be capable of launching or throwing a projectile suchas a ball or spear by placing a spin on the projectile as part of, orbefore, the projectile is released so that the projectile's path is notjust an arc as can occur with a catapult. This invention applies toprojectiles such as, e.g., but not limited to, baseballs, footballs, andthe like, where a spin is often placed on the ball as it is released sothat the rotation can cause the ball to travel in a specific mannertowards a specific target. The direction and speed of the spin can alsobe changed, e.g., by, e.g., one or more mechanisms such as, e.g., butnot limited to, wheels, and/or other mechanisms to cause the ball tospin in a particular way, so as to cause pressure differentials on theball or projectile, as it moves through the air similar to how abaseball pitcher has a repertoire of options in how the pitcher throws aball to the catcher at home plate and, can use the plurality of optionsto try to confuse the batter as to where, and how the ball is traveling.

The throwing component that contains, or grasps the ball before it isreleased can have an example cradle that can hold the ball and/or aspindle, and/or wheel and/or other propulsion mechanism, and/or otherdevice capable of spinning and transmitting its rotational energy intothe projectile before, or at the same time as, the projectile isreleased, and/or the wrist action can alone, or in combination, withthat of the robotic arm can be sufficient to initiate the desired spinon the ball or projectile similar to what occurs when a hand rotates asit releases and/or throws a baseball or football. The mechanisms can berepeatably controllable to allow programming the device to perform thethrowing process.

2. Catching portion—According to an example embodiment, an examplerobotic arm that can be configured to be capable of catching aprojectile or ball in an example mitt or other capture mechanism, suchas, e.g., but not limited to, an example baseball catcher's mitt and/orother device such that the ball is not damaged and/or dropped andwhereby the ball can be made to stay in play, and/or in possession ofthe example robot arm and then can be displaced to the throwing sideand/or portion of the robotic arm for return to the human pitcher orpitching robotic arm.

3. Transition portion—According to an example embodiment, an examplerobotic arm can be configured with a capability for catching andthrowing that can have an example transition mechanism and/or sectionwhere the ball can move from the catching device to the throwing cradleand/or the catching mitt can be integrated with the throwing cradlewhereby the spindle can be able to put a spin on and/or eject and/orpitch the ball from approximately the same location or vicinity wherethe ball was caught by and in the mitt.

B. Hitting or returning robotic arm—According to an example embodiment,an example robot capable of using a racket and/or bat to hit and/orreturn a projectile or ball back in the general direction from where itcame or for hitting a projectile such as, e.g., but not limited to, aball that has been independently launched and/or dropped in the closevicinity of the robot so that the robot can hit the ball such as, e.g.,but not limited to, how a tennis ball is thrown up in service in the airat the beginning of play by the person who is putting the ball into playtoward a specific target, and/or how a ball can be dropped from aboveand then hit on its way down.

According to an example embodiment, an example hitting robot can utilizesensors to detect the velocity and direction of the approaching and/ordropping ball and can be able to calculate where and how the ball can behit with the bat or racket so as to cause the ball to return to aspecific location at a specific velocity.

According to an example embodiment, an example hitting robot can be usedfor tennis practice and/or in fielding practice in baseball with humanplayers on the field. According to an example embodiment, in an examplegame of tennis, a robot could be used for repetitive serves to aspecific location on the court at various velocities, in the game ofbaseball the robot can be able to hit a ball in a specific way such as,e.g., but not limited to, at a specific angle or specific velocity sothat the ball goes to a specific location on the field and/or in thegame of football the robot can be able to throw the ball to the samelocation repeatedly for practice in running plays and/or evaluatingplayers, etc. According to an example embodiment, an example robot canbe able to hit a ball such as, e.g., but not limited to, a tennis balland/or a baseball that can be independently launched in its closevicinity such as, e.g., but not limited to, how a tennis ball is thrownup in a serve and/or how a baseball is thrown up with one hand by acoach as he hits balls toward his players on the field in scouting,training and/or warm ups.

C. Combination of two robots competing with each other in agame—According to an example embodiment, an example robot can beconfigured to be throwing and the other robot can be configured forhitting, and/or both can be configured for hitting.

According to an example embodiment, an example combination of twodifferent robotic arms, a) one throwing (or on defense), and b) anothercapable of hitting (or offense) could create an environment where therobots can be employed as part of a competition between two teams, as ifthe robots were players that were integrated as part of a baseball teamwith other human players or in a game between two machines without otherhuman players such as, e.g., but not limited to, on a tennis courtand/or at a ping-pong table which is also known as table tennis. Therobots can be configured that their controllers be teleoperativelyattended and operated by humans.

According to an example embodiment, an example of each robot can beconnected to, and/or, can be operated by, at least one electroniccontroller or as in the game of baseball control of the hitting andthrowing robots, which can be permanently mounted in place with one onthe pitching mound and the other in the batters' box, could switch tothe other team when the teams with their human players switch sidesbetween hitting and fielding and the display of the team insignia foreach robot could coincide with the change of control.

D. Personified Player Robots—According to an example embodiment, examplerobots on the field can be personified with ancillary human featuressuch as, e.g., but not limited to, eyes, lips and/or ears to give therobot(s) the ability to manipulate and/or move these features in a waythat can, e.g., but not limited to, display, express or communicate ahuman personality and/or character.

According to one example embodiment, example embodiments can assist inmaking it possible that technical people can get into professionalsports via working with example systems such as those discussed in thisdisclosure.

In one example embodiment, a robot can play the part of one or moreathletes in an example professional sport. Comparison of an examplecost, of example robot(s) playing a part of a position conventionallyplayed by of certain athletes (e.g., a pitcher, or a catcher inbaseball, etc.), can be substantially less costly as compared relativeto exorbitant conventional salaries that are paid to professional sportsplayers. For example, an example salary of one average conventionalprofessional player could potentially pay for a whole field of robots.

FIG. 32A depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal orientation, according to an exemplary embodiment.There can be a plurality of different goals. There can be two, three,four, or more goals. The goals can be programmed to move continually.

FIG. 32B depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary vertical orientation, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 32C depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal orientation, with an example single robot tocontrol the continuously movable goal, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 32D depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary vertical orientation, with an example single robot to controlthe continuously movable goal, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 32E depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal orientation, with an example plurality of robots tocontrol the continuously movable goals, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 32F depicts an exemplary embodiment of multiple basket goals in anexemplary horizontal or vertical orientation, with an example singlerobot with a plurality of end effectors to control the continuouslymovable goals, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In another embodiment, conveyors can be used to bring out automatedconcessions to seats G-U, according to an embodiment, not shown. Inanother embodiment, drones can deliver food or drinks within thestadium, not shown.

Launcher and/or Package Delivery Storage Canister

In another example embodiment, a vehicle can have a launcher to launchpackages to a house, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In another example embodiment, each house can have its own receptaclewith automatic sensor based door/cover for protecting packages deliveredinto such receptacle, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Artificially intelligent (AI) based, with e.g., an expert system, ormachine learning capabilities, can provide autonomous delivery van ordriverless delivery van, can move within a zone and can deliver toexample 3 feet×3 feet box which can open like a trash can to receiveboxes, and can close and lock and include a power supply to open/close,and can use a solar panel to generate electricity, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Continuously Moving Athletic Sports Goals for Practice, Play,Competitions and League Formation

According to an exemplary embodiment many applications of the exemplaryinvention can improve society, according to an exemplary embodiment.First, embodiments can create semi-professional athletic opportunitiesfor the thousands of athletes and coaches that can like to participatein semi-professional sports, second embodiments can provide for theestablishment of many financially viable local community basedprofessional sports leagues, third embodiments can provide a frameworkfor both male and female athletes and coaches of all ages to develop andmaintain the social, physical and psychological benefits that arederived from being able to participate in organized competitive teamactivities, fourth embodiments can create new opportunities for athletesthat have been excluded from particular sports because of height orother physical limitations, according to an exemplary embodiment, fifthembodiments can make sports competitions more interesting andentertaining by requiring more player teamwork in sports competitionsversus teams being dependent on the exceptional talents of a fewplayers, sixth embodiments can allow the players, games and leagues toserve as an example of how cooperation is more important than individualglory, and seventh embodiments can embodiments can create a new class ofcompetitive sports leagues for spectator entertainment and enjoyment.

There are thousands of athletes playing high school and college sportsthat have the skills and interest in continuing to participate inorganized athletics but cannot find semi-professional leagues toparticipate in because of limited options and monopolistic control ofprofessional sports leagues and venues by the major sports franchises,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Embodiments can include the formation of new competitive sports leaguesthat can utilize permanently mounted equipment, or moveable equipmentwhich can be capable of moving sports goals in a continuous mannerinstalled in private facilities for the creation of new types ofsporting activities and games where the goal is continually movingduring the game instead of remaining static in a fixed position asuniversally applied and accepted today in games like conventionalbasketball, according to an exemplary embodiment.

The facilities can also be equipped with an array of many automaticallyoperated high definition video cameras (see FIG. 33, for example) forthe purposes of producing and streaming high definition quality videoprogramming of the various sports league events to audiences within andbeyond the immediate community, according to an exemplary embodiment.The creation of this new type of spectator sports and embodiments caninclude a capability for the efficient production of video programmingcan provide new funding opportunities via pay-per-view, individualbranding and/or sponsorship or combinations of the three and theathletes and coaches can be able to derive an income from the sportsentertainment content of their competitive athletic activities,according to an exemplary embodiment.

The embodiments of the invention can include continuously moving sportsgoals and can allow more players with different attributes toparticipate in these new games, according to an exemplary embodiment. Anexample of the opportunities for new players to participate in gameswith continuously moving goals can be illustrated in an analysis of thegame of basketball whereby this invention of a continuously moving goalcan neutralize the height advantage of taller players relative to thequickness of the shorter players so more shorter players can use theirquickness to help advance the ball, score goals and participate onteams, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Basketball can be currently played with a goal that is in a fixedposition which can allow the taller defensive players to always know itsposition relative to the offensive player and therefore the talldefensive players can maintain the best possible defensive positionbetween the offensive player and the goal and be more successful inblocking attempted goals especially by those attempted by shorterplayers, according to an exemplary embodiment. By comparison, acontinuously moving basketball goal is not as easy for tall players todefend because its position is continually changing which providesopportunities for shorter players to use their quickness to faint andmove around the defending taller players who are unsure of its exactposition or direction of movement, according to an exemplary embodiment.

The taller defensive player can be at a disadvantage with a moving goalbecause as the defensive player positions their body between theoffensive player with the goal to their back the defensive player cannotsee the position of both the offensive player and the goal at the sametime because the goal is oscillating back and forth and continuouslychanging its position and location, according to an exemplaryembodiment. This continuously moving, oscillating and changing goalposition of embodiments can give the shorter players, who can always seethe goal as well as the defensive player in front of them theopportunity to confuse and faint or fake the defending players which canadd a new dimension of quickness and coordination to player rostersversus the domination of taller players on team rosters today as thegame is currently played, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Games and competitions, according to an exemplary embodiment, can beprovided with continuously moving goals moving at equal or differentvelocities and/or equivalent and/or multiple and/or differentconfigurations of single and/or multiple goals and/or different sizedgoals in embodiments can also be more entertaining than games withstatic goals because players can have to improve their teamwork, gamestrategy and coordination of effort to score points as they work theball to a position that is as close as possible to the goal(s) becauselonger distance shots as currently relied on and accomplished withextensive development of muscle memory can be negated due to theincreased difficulty associated with hitting a moving target from afurther distance, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Games can be configured to be played with more variables for goalsprovide many new options for scoring and handicapping based on theunique attributes of the different configurations, according to anexemplary embodiment. Smaller, higher, and faster moving goals canprovide more scoring points because of their difficulty relative tolarger, lower and slower moving goals which can by comparison be easierto score points and therefore less points can be earned or other optionsrelative to the players and game score handicapping, can be provided,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Audiences can enjoy attending as well as remotely watching live athleticevents on various electronic devices such as televisions, cell phonesand computer terminals as well as in person but the facilities for thecontinuously moving sport goals can have limited if any spectatorsphysically present because of site, facility and economic limitationsand restraints, according to an exemplary embodiment. To be financiallyviable, the facilities for these competitions can be limited to thecourt area without space for spectators to be present, according to anexemplary embodiment. Instead of physically attending the games, thespectators can watch the games remotely via internet streaming to theirelectronic devices and even though the spectators won't be present theycan be able to utilize their capability to transmit audio through themicrophone on their personal electronic device for purposes ofbroadcasting their comments to the inside of the warehouse and/or otherphysical facility via an audio broadcast system installed within thefacility so that the athletes participating in the event can be able tohear the murmur and loud comments of the spectators as if the spectatorswere physically present in the facility via a high quality, wellpositioned and amplified sound system, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The permanently mounted robotic equipment that moves the goals can beconfigured for different types and sizes of sports goals so the indoorarenas can also be used for other individual and team sports such aslacrosse, soccer, tennis, frisbee, hockey, archery, etc., according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 33 depicts an example stadium with example multiple goals (circlesA-D), example court polygon shapes, such as elliptical and rectangular,the stadium can be an amphitheater arrangement with one or more seats(squares G-U), and an array of cameras (boxes 1-16) catching thecompetition, according to an example embodiment.

Example embodiments can include:

One or more continuously moving sports goals mounted on very heavyindustrial robotic arms that can be securely bolted in place to asufficient foundation and can, in some embodiments, utilize electricityof a very high voltage to operate, can be provided, according to anexample embodiment.

Competitive sports leagues and practice facilities that utilizecontinuously moving sports goals for athletic practice as well as forindividual and team competitions, can be provided, according to anexample embodiment.

Sports facility/arenas with computer manipulated cameras installed andconfigured to track and focus on the ball and specific players, can beprovided, according to an example embodiment.

Balls or other sports device or players with electronicsensor/transmitter or specific coating or color so that a trackingdevice on a video camera can track or follow the sports device or playerwhile it/they move around on a playing court or field for the purpose ofmaintaining the sports device or player in the field of view of thecamera and such that the camera can zoom in or out and focus on thedevice/player being tracked, can be provided, according to an exampleembodiment.

An algorithm capable of adjusting zoom and camera view framing relativeto the action occurring on the court or some other variable, can beprovided, according to an example embodiment. (Cameras already have thetechnology for automatic focusing.)

Sports facility/arenas with remote user manipulated cameras installed,configured and positioned as if they, the remote user, was located inplace of a specific seat at an arena so people can be seated with theirfamily and or friends as if they were physically in attendance at thegame and they can control the camera as if they were using binoculars atan event, can be provided, according to an example embodiment. Thecameras can even be personified with the face of the user via a displayscreen, according to an example embodiment.

Spectators viewing the game via streaming can use headsets to listen tothe game and their own remote microphones to participate in the liveevent as if they were in attendance, according to an example embodiment.Within the area, algorithms can be employed to control the volume anddirection of the sound created by the remote spectators from thelocation where the spectator's controlled camera operates and inproximity to the other spectators and the court, according to an exampleembodiment.

An exemplary embodiment of the sporting apparatus can further include:at least one flat panel display coupled to said at least one sportingdevice; at least one transparent protective cover configured to: allowviewing of said at least one flat panel display; and protect said atleast one flat panel display from impact of at least one of: at leastone ball, or at least one projectile, being aimed at said at least onesporting device.

The sporting apparatus can further include: at least one animatronicappendage or facial feature.

The sporting apparatus can further include: where the user comprises atleast one of: audience user; a player user; or a referee user.

The sporting apparatus can further include at least one of: a wirelesscommunication facility wirelessly coupling said at least one sportinggoal device and said at least one user interface, wherein said wirelesscommunication facility is configured to communicate to said at least onesporting goal device; at least one audio or at least one video devicecoupled to said at least one sporting goal device configured to display,capture, or produce audio or video personified attributes; at least onespeaker or at least one microphone coupled to said at least one sportinggoal device configured to produce or capture personified sound; at leastone sensor coupled to said at least one processor configured to sense aball or projectile proximate to said at least goal; at least one robotcoupled to said at least one sporting goal device; or at least one flatpanel display coupled to said sporting goal device, configured todisplay personified attributes comprising at least one of: at least onelight emitting diode (LED) or LED back light coupled to said sportinggoal device; at least one liquid crystal display (LCD) coupled to saidsporting goal device; or at least one transparent, protective coveringof said flat panel display.

In one example embodiment, a robot goal, or participant driver, and/ordrone driver of the robot or drone can be positioned in a designatedarea, in one example embodiment, a controller bubble, and the driver, orin some cases, even the audience by entry of requests by electroniccommunication such as message or selection of a website user interfaceelement can control the robot. Thus, in one embodiment, the driver ofthe goal, or a drone can be in the bubble. The driver of the Drone cantry to take a ball and make a basket, while the driver of the goal, inone embodiment can evade the efforts to make a basket.

In one example embodiment, an array of cameras can be set up around astadium. This array of cameras, in one embodiment, can focus on activityon the playingfield (which can be of any shape such as circular,ellipse, rectangle, square, triangular, hexagon, octagon or otherpolygon, etc.) and can automatically follow movement any person orobject on the field, such as, a moving robot, a flying drone, acompeting robot, or competitor. Others, with permissions granted, canelectronically access these electronic digital video camera feeds and/orin real-time or otherwise, can electronically switch between theplurality of different electronic digital camera feeds. Then authorizedusers can access, compile, and/or aggregate into compilations, creationtheir own derivative content from the electronic data of the pluralityof camera feeds' digital content.

An exemplary automated newspaper launcher system for an automobile orother vehicle or drone, or aerial vehicle can allow the user to sendnewspapers, or other objects such as, e.g., but not limited to,packages, etc. from the front of the car/vehicle, to a destination, suchas, a person's home. One method can have a receptacle at the front ofthe house for example. The example receptacle at the front of the housecan include a predictable location where a drone delivery apparatus candrop the package into the receptacle, and/or the launcher system candeliver packages into the receptacle. The example so-called last milesolution can be important because it can give access for dropping offthings the receptacle. Services provided in some embodiments can includeclimate control, such as, e.g., air conditioning or cooling, heating,humidity control, etc., it in certain environments some kind oftemperate temperature maintaining subsystem. The object can enter theclimate controlled receptacle, which can have a door or automated coverdevice to protect the the cavity for receiving the payload and the covercan prevent the payload from environmental impact of rain snow or otherprecipitation as well as to help maintain climate control thereceptacle. The apparatus can further include electrical access HVACdigitally controlled temperature password control for access to open toplace to remove the receptacle can include multiple sub receptacleportions for example one for FedEx one for the US Postal Service, DHLetc., each receptacle can have separate Access Control such that only anauthorized delivery service can it gain access to the payload holdingbay associated with such delivery company. The customer itself can ofcourse access these things by entry of a password or all otherauthenticating means such as biometric systems including fingerprintcontrol, Iris control, voice-activated control, voice identifying voicerecognition system, and/or other biometric and/or validation.

According to one exemplary embodiment, an enclosure, orthree-dimensional space, can be used as shown in FIGS. 20, 34, and 35,which can include, e.g., but are not limited to, an exemplary array ofbreak-beam laser sensors, or the like, where those arrays of a pluralityof sensors can be used to sense, and/or track a position and time of amoving projectile, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a ball, a bullet,etc., that is projected or caused to traverse a path through the space,enclosure, partially enclosed space, room, building, tunnel, and/orcontainer and/or other enclosure, or example enclosure or container,etc. Advantageously, when the projectile is large, as is the case withrespect to a ball, relative to the size of the sensor, it is easier forthe sensors to detect the projectile. To increase the granularity ofaccuracy, a larger number of sensors per area of the periphery of thespace can be added. Depending on the size of the projectile, one may notneed as many sensors, or may need more sensors. For example, if theprojectile is a baseball, and one wishes to be able to detect the pathof a pitched ball down to one inch accuracy, then a large number ofsensors will be required than if the path need only be detected to onefoot accuracy, potentially 12 times the number in one dimension, or 144times the number, in two dimensions, or 288 times the number, in threedimensions, if using two times two parallel pairs of transmitter andreceiver panels, with one pair orthogonal to the other pair to allowdetecting in three dimensions a location of a projectile breaking thebeams, in one exemplary embodiment. In order to be able to detect fastmoving objects such as a baseball being pitched at speeds in the rangeof 100 miles per hour over a 60-90 feet distance, then the sensors mustbe able to register movement through the space for fractions of a secondin order to detect the path that the ball traverses through the space. Acomputer implemented apparatus can be used to track the sensed data of aprojectile moving through the enclosure/space. According to oneexemplary embodiment, the enclosure, or space, can be approximately 8feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, 20 feet, or from about 6 feet, up to about 30feet high, or higher, in height. In one exemplary embodiment, theenclosure or tunnel can be 60-90 feet long, or even longer, if sodesired.

According to various exemplary embodiments, various features ofconventional systems can be enhanced with various advantageous features,and further can include, in various embodiments, other features ofvarious well known systems, which can be incorporated as additionalfeatures in the present system, including for example, but not limitedto, e.g., the tracking of a baseball path has conventionally attemptedto be determined by the use of a backstop, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,496,issued Oct. 13, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,549, issued May 30, 1995,and U.S. Pat. No. 9,089,751, issued Jul. 28, 2015, and U.S. PatentPublication US20040063521, published Apr. 1, 2004, and U.S. Pat. No.8,356,818, issued Jan. 22, 2013, and regarding sensors on a catcher'sglove, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,846, issued Sep. 10, 1996, and a tennistraining system, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,086, issued Dec. 8, 1998, andan ultrasonic position detection system, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,195,325,issued Nov. 24, 2015, and regarding a golf system and clubs, see U.S.Pat. No. 7,166,035, issued Jan. 23, 2007, and US Patent PublicationUS20050130755, published Jun. 16, 2005, and regarding video sensors, seeU.S. Pat. No. 9,746,353, issued Jun. 20, 2012, the contents of all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, but suchsolutions have known shortcomings, including lacking the ability toaccurately determine the path of a ball being thrown over a distance ina three-dimensional space, according to an exemplary embodiment.

The higher the density of the array of sensors, i.e., the greater thenumber of sensors per area, the greater the accuracy of the traversedpath that may be tracked, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In one exemplary embodiment, the enclosure can comprise of, e.g., butnot limited to, one or more shipping container(s) as illustrated invarious example drawings described further below. In one exampleembodiment, two shipping containers can be placed, e.g., but not limitedto, side by side, or one or more sea containers can be used, side byside, or aligned in a row, end-to-end, in a line, see FIGS. 34A and 34B,for example, according to exemplary embodiments. Where examples haveshown two containers, this is by way of example, and is not intendedpreclude the use of 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . , n. numbers of containers placedside-by-side, or end-to-end in a line, in other exemplary embodimentscontemplated by Applicant's claims.

In one exemplary embodiment, there can be, e.g., but not limited to,panels of sensors (e.g., transmitter panel(s) on one side, and receiverpanel(s) on another) forming a space between them. In another exampleembodiment, a pair of parallel walls opposing one another can form anexemplary space, whether place vertically to one another, horizontally,or in some cases both, and/or orthogonal to one another, or about aperiphery of a space, such as, e.g., but not limited to, a circle, acylindrical tube, etc. Sensors are contemplated to be placed parallel toone another, but there is nothing preventing alternative embodimentswith radial sensors, or sensors scanning an area by sweeping and/orrotating in any of one or more dimensions. In another exemplaryembodiment, the enclosure can have at least three sides, such as, afloor and two walls, or two walls and a ceiling, or a floor, ceiling andtwo walls, etc. According to one exemplary embodiment, the enclosure caninclude a sea container such as, e.g., but not limited to the seacontainer in U.S. Pat. No. 9,334,105, issued May 10, 2016, the contentsof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Accordingto one exemplary embodiment, the container can alternatively include,e.g., but not limited to, a collapsible shipping container such as,e.g., but not limited to the shipping container in U.S. Pat. No.3,765,556, issued Oct. 16, 1973, the contents of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the enclosure or space can include other features normallyfound in pitching enclosures, or other sports trajectory analysissystems, such as, e.g., but not limited to, those discussed above,and/or shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,549, issued May 30, 1995, or othertechnologies can be incorporated along with sensors to calculate thetrajectory of a ball moving through the enclosure, or through the space,such as sensors, transceivers, transmitter/receiver pairs, etc., and/ortechnologies as disclosed, e.g., but not limited to, in U.S. Pat. No.9,370,704, issued Jun. 21, 2016, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,409,024 issued Apr.2, 2013, or U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,832, issued Jan. 7, 2014, the contentsof all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.According to an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure can resemble atunnel. According to an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure can be 60-90feet long, or longer. According to an exemplary embodiment, sensors canbe spread about an internal periphery of the exemplary enclosure ortunnel, and can be oriented radially inward in the case of a circularcross-sectional tunnel, and/or with parallel paneled sides in the caseof a rectangular and/or square cross-sectional enclosure, according toan exemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the enclosure can include one ormore array(s) of sensors, beam-breaking sensors, IR, LED, radar, lidar,and/or laser sensors, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment. Thearray of exemplary laser sensors according to an exemplary embodimentcan include so-called break-beam sensors, such as, e.g., but not limitedto, the sensors used on a conventional garage door, for example, suchas, an infrared beam transmitter and receiver oriented directly acrossfrom one another, across a cross-section of a given volume of a spacethrough which the path of a projectile is detected and data sensed,collected, stored, and analyzed, electronically. According to anexemplary embodiment, an exemplary array of sensors can be provided in,e.g., an example 4′×8′ exemplary panel array of transmitters, shown withexample strips with example sensors illustrated as, e.g., but notlimited to, circles illustrated in FIGS. 35A, 35B, and another suchpanel can be on a parallel wall across from, and outfitted with an arrayof receivers, according to an exemplary embodiment. According to anotherexemplary embodiment, a sensor such as, e.g., but not limited to, aninfrared, and/or LED, and/or laser, and/or light sensor, transmitterand/or receiver and/or sensor can be used, such as, e.g., but notlimited to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,511, issued Apr. 16,1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,578, issued Aug. 17, 1999, the contents ofboth of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,according to an exemplary embodiment. According to one exemplaryembodiment, the sensors can include, e.g., but not limited to, one ormore pluralities of transmitter(s) and receiver(s), or transceiver(s),or the like. A system can be used to track the movement of an object,ball, and/or person in exemplary two dimensions, and/or in threedimensional space, such as, e.g., but not limited to, to that disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,855, issued May 2, 2006, the contents of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, according to anexemplary embodiment. According to one exemplary embodiment, a LiDARsensor such as, e.g., but not limited to, a rotating LiDAR sensor can beused to detect objects such as used in self-driving automobiles such as,U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,224, issued Mar. 31, 2015, and WO2017/151943,published Sep. 8, 2017, and one or more array of these type sensors canbe used to track the exemplary trajectory of movement of an objectthrough space, or according to alternative embodiments other opticaldetection and ranging sensor systems for sensing can be used such as,e.g., but not limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 8,400,511, filed Mar. 19, 2013,the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the enclosure can includeadditional features simulating a real-world environment, such as, e.g.,but not limited to, speakers to allow for simulated crowd noise of abaseball game, heat, outdoor conditions, temperature, climate, etc.Exemplary simulated environments can be used to simulate the gameenvironment with noise and distractions, heat, outdoors, climate, andstress, and other simulated conditions to simulate a game environment,to determine the effects of such environmental factors on userperformance, such as, e.g., but not limited to, how is one's curve ballaffected by being out in the bright sunshine, humidity, under brightlights, or otherwise, rather than in a sterile lab-based environment,for example, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a robotic catcher can bepositioned at one end of the enclosure to allow pitching to a roboticcatcher as shown in FIG. 20, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a grid of sensors can be placedon a backboard, on side panels, etc., the sensors can also include,e.g., but not limited to, indicators such as, e.g., but not limited to,LEDs, lights, sensors, ultrasonic sensors, video, audio, other sensors,or the like, and depending on where the ball hits the backboard, and/oror other sensors/breaks beams, etc., an indicator can show by turningon, e.g., but not limited to, a light, LED, or other display element,display and/or monitor, etc., where the ball hit, and the light, LEDs,indicators, etc., could be brighter, or vary for emphasis to shown,e.g., but not limited to, the harder the ball hit the backboard,according to one exemplary embodiment. Thus, with an array of indicatorsas shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, such LED/Sensors can indicator where theball hit, for example, according to one exemplary embodiment.

One or more arrays of horizontal and/or vertical sensor beams can beused to identify/detect the path of the ball as it passes through the 3Dspace breaking any vertical and/or horizontal ray beams fromtransmitters to receivers, such events can be stored in realtime,including the collection of such information along with time stamps, andcombining into an aggregated record of a flypath over a certain periodof time, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment. The higher thedensity of the sensors, the greater the granularity of accuracy ofdetection that can be achieved, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 34A depicts an exemplary diagram 3400 showing an exemplaryenclosure illustrating an exemplary pair of exemplary enclosures 3402,3404 in a row, aligned end-to-end, or in a line, according to oneexample embodiment. Exemplary doors are shown, which can be on, e.g.,but not limited to, at least one end, both ends, or neither end, as insome embodiments the doors can be removed, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 34B depicts an exemplary diagram 3406 showing an exemplaryenclosure illustrating an exemplary pair of exemplary enclosures 3408,3410 in a side-by-side exemplary relationship to one another, accordingto one example embodiment. Exemplary doors are shown, which can be,e.g., but not limited to, on at least one end, both ends, or neitherend, as in some embodiments the doors can be removed, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 35A depicts an exemplary diagram 3500 showing an exemplary pair oftransmitter 3502/receiver 3504 parallel vertical panels in an exemplaryhorizontal orientation relationship to one another, which can bestanding vertically, and coupled to a system to gather and analyze suchsensed data via an exemplary data collection system 3506, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 35B depicts an exemplary diagram 3508 showing an exemplary pair oftransmitter 3512/receiver 3510 parallel horizontal panels in anexemplary vertical orientation relationship to one another, standinghorizontally, and coupled to a system to gather and analyze such senseddata via an exemplary data collection system 3514, according to anexemplary embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary data collectionsystem 3506, 3514 can include, e.g., but not limited to, a computerprocessor, graphical user interface, display monitor, a memory, datastorage such as, e.g., but not limited to, internal or external storagedevices, and enabling software systems including a database managementsystem, and/or database to collect data as beams of transmittedlight/lasers/etc. are broken from the transmitters to receivers, and cantime stamp, e.g., at which times a given beam was broken, and the datacan be synchronized and/or aggregated across all the sensors of all thearrays, and of all the panels, and the data can then be combined andgraphed to allow display of an illustration of the path of theprojectile's motion through the enclosure, showing the path traversed bythe projectile, ball, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.

In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, a combination of vertical andhorizontal panels can be used to provide tracking of a projectile sentthrough the enclosure, as each beam is broken, in one exemplaryembodiment, according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, transmitters can be placed on onepanel, and receivers can be placed on a parallel panel, as shown,according to an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary transmitter panel isshown with an exemplary plurality of strips of exemplary arrays ofsensors, which in one exemplary embodiment can include a strip oftransmitters in one line, and the panel can include a number such as,e.g., but not limited to, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and/or 12,or more of these strips of a plurality of transmitters, in one exemplaryembodiment. Similarly on the receiver side, the panels can also beformed out of a number of sensors, which, in one exemplary embodimentcan be placed in strips, and can be placed in a series of these strips,in one exemplary embodiment. In other exemplary embodiments, a mix oftransmitters and receivers, and/or transceivers can be placed on a givenpanel, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In one embodiment, the panels can also include speakers to allow pipingof sound/audio, or temperature, climate control, noise, etc., tosimulate a given environment such as, e.g., but not limited to, astadium, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above describedexemplary embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordancewith the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sporting device apparatus comprising: at leastone or more of: at least one pair of parallel panels facing one anotherforming a tunnel space therebetween, with an array of a plurality ofsensors on the inner periphery of said parallel panels; or a pluralityof sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery of a tunnel space;wherein said plurality of sensors is configured to detect, and sense aprojectile following a path through said tunnel space; and at least onedata collection system configured to: capture a time stamp and locationof occurrence of a detection event, store said time stamp and saidlocation of said detection event, and analyze a trajectory and pathfollowed by the projectile through said tunnel space.
 2. The sportingdevice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensorscomprises: a plurality of beam-breaking sensors.
 3. The sporting deviceapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensorscomprises: a plurality of transmitter and receiver pairs.
 4. Thesporting device apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pluralityof sensors comprises: a plurality of sensors, wherein said sensorscomprise at least one of: an infra-red sensor; a light emitting diode(LED) sensor; a beam sensor; a laser sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; aradar sensor; or a lidar sensor.
 5. The sporting device apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: at least one robot orientedtoward said tunnel, at an opening of at least one end of said tunnel. 6.The sporting device apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said robotcomprises: a plurality of joint axes, wherein each joint axis of saidplurality of joint axes comprises: at least one motor; at least onestructural member coupled to at least one of said each of said pluralityof joint axes motors, wherein each of said at least one motor isconfigured to move an associated coupled at least one of said at leastone structural member.
 7. The sporting device apparatus according toclaim 5, further comprising at least one or more of: at least oneelectronic user interface coupled to said at least one robot, configuredto interact with a user to receive a selection of at least one sportingroutine for moving said robot; at least one electronic computerprocessor, coupled to said at least one robot; at least one electronicinput device coupled to said at least one electronic computer processor;at least one electronic output device coupled to said at least oneelectronic computer processor; or at least one electronic memory devicecoupled to said at least one electronic computer processor.
 8. Thesporting device apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:wherein said electronic user interface comprises at least one of: anelectronic display device, said at least one electronic input device,said at least one electronic output device, an electronic keyboard, oran electronic touchscreen.
 9. The sporting device apparatus according toclaim 5, further comprising at least one or more of: wherein said atleast one electronic computer processor is configured to save orretrieve said at least one sporting routine from said at least onememory; wherein said at least one electronic computer processor isconfigured to randomize at least one challenge; or wherein saidelectronic computer processor is configured to at least one of: combinea plurality of previously saved of said at least one sporting routine,or shuffle a plurality of previously saved of said at least one sportingroutine.
 10. The sporting device apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid at least one sporting device comprises being configured to receivethrough said tunnel space the projectile from the user, the apparatusconfigured to detect at least one of: a pitch or throw of theprojectile; a catch or hit of the projectile; automatically detect apath traversed by the projectile; automatically detect movement of theprojectile; identify a position, trajectory and path of the projectileover a given time; detect at least a direction and a path of theprojectile traversed through the tunnel space; detect at least one of avelocity, or an acceleration of the projectile; automatically track apath in at least one horizontal, or vertical plane; detect whether atleast one goal is achieved; detect whether at least one target isreached; detect movement in at least two dimensions; or detect movementin at least three dimensions.
 11. The sporting device apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one sporting devicecomprises at least one of: a target; a goal; a ring; a closed loop; aclosed polygon with an opening therein; a ring between the user and afinal target; a border with an aperture therethrough; a ring between theuser and a final goal; a pitching capability; a throwing capability; acatching capability; a hitting capability; an offensive capability; adefensive capability; a goal; a basketball goal; a soccer goal; atarget; a hockey goal; a field hockey goal; a hockey goal; a wintersports goal; a summer sports goal; a shooting sports target; an archerygoal; a field goal; a lacrosse goal; a tennis target; a golf target; afootball target; an intermediate goal; a plurality of goals; or aFRISBEE flying disc golf goal.
 12. A sporting apparatus comprising: atleast one sporting data collection device, wherein said at least onesporting data collection device comprises: at least one electroniccomputer processor; at least one electronic memory device coupled tosaid at least one electronic computer processor; at least one of atleast one electronic input or at least one electronic output devicecoupled to said at least one electronic computer processor; and at leastone or more of: at least one pair of parallel panels facing one anotherforming a tunnel space therebetween, with an array of a plurality ofsensors on the inner periphery of said parallel panels; or a pluralityof sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery of a tunnel space;wherein said plurality of sensors is configured to detect, and sense aprojectile following a path through said tunnel space; and wherein saidat least one sporting data collection system is configured to: capture atime stamp and location of occurrence of a detection event, store saidtime stamp and said location of said detection event, and analyze atrajectory and path followed by the projectile through said tunnel space13. The sporting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said pluralityof sensors comprises: a plurality of beam-breaking sensors.
 14. Thesporting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality ofsensors comprises: a plurality of transmitter and receiver pairs. 15.The sporting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said plurality ofsensors comprises: a plurality of sensors, wherein said sensors compriseat least one of: an infra-red sensor; a light emitting diode (LED)sensor; a beam sensor; a laser sensor; an ultrasonic sensor; a radarsensor; or a lidar sensor.
 16. The sporting apparatus according to claim12 further comprising: at least one robot oriented toward said tunnel,at an opening of at least one end of said tunnel.